Volunteering

Volunteers are integral and valued members of the Horniman team assisting us in both visitor-facing roles and vital work behind-the-scenes.

Along with a supportive learning environment, we offer the chance to gain new skills and experience or simply to do something you enjoy.

Current vacancies

Nature + Love Volunteer

Closing date: 15/10/2023

Nature + Love is a generational transformation project to enable the Horniman to meet its most important objectives – to become more inclusive by widening our audience to better match the diversity of the London population and to place environmental sustainability and a commitment to fighting the climate emergency at our heart.

This role, based in our small, friendly volunteering team, will focus on increasing our volunteer understanding of our interdependence with nature and the impact of climate change and developing opportunities for them to engage with the Nature + Love project.

To apply:

  • Please contact volunteering@horniman.ac.uk and request an application form
  • Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an informal interview on 31 October

The deadline to apply is 15 October.

Engage Volunteer

Closing date: 03/12/2023

The Horniman welcomes a wide range of people to the museum each year including many young families. Engage Volunteers help bring our collections and displays to life and enable visitors to have a richer, more hands-on experience at the Museum. All necessary training is given and no prior experience is needed.

To apply:

  • Please contact volunteering@horniman.ac.uk and request an application form
  • Interviews will be held on 12 December. Induction will take place on 16 January 2023.
  • Please put ‘Engage Volunteer’ as the subject line of your email

The deadline to apply is 3 December 2023.

We can only accept applications when volunteering roles are advertised.

Find any current roles on this page.

We take volunteers from age 15 upwards though some roles will only be available to those aged 18 and over. Where this is the case, this will be clear on the role description. There is no upper age limit.

No. Volunteer roles are different from staff roles and do not lead to paid work.

However, they do provide an opportunity to gain skills and experience.

We reimburse out-of-pocket travel expenses up to a maximum of £12 per day.

Volunteers offering a full day shift can also be reimbursed lunch expenses.

For on-going roles which are usually weekly or fortnightly, like Engage, Family Activity or Gardening, we ask for a minimum of 4-5 months if possible.

Fixed term student volunteer placements last 3 months, doing 1-3 days a week.

We are able to provide a few work experience opportunities for school students each year, depending on capacity. Enquiries should be sent to schools@horniman.ac.uk

Yes, you may volunteer whilst on benefits, but you would need to let the Job Centre know about your volunteering.

The Horniman acknowledges the contribution of volunteers in supporting the organisation to achieve its aim to connect people with global cultures and the natural world, and encourage everyone to shape a positive future for the world we all share.

Read the Volunteering Policy (PDF).