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

Engage volunteer

This is a regular, visitor-facing role in our Natural History and World galleries helping to bring our displays and objects to life and enabling visitors to have a richer, more hands-on experience. An Engage volunteer shift also involves helping visitors understand the behaviour of insects in the Butterfly House and, with further training, marine life in the Aquarium.

We are looking for people with good spoken English, a friendly manner and willingness to learn. See the attached role description for more details and how to apply.

Exhibition engagement volunteer

Closing date: 31/10/2021

From December, the Horniman will be displaying a new exhibition call Hair, Untold Stories.

Hair is so familiar to us that we rarely stop to think about what an extraordinary fibre it is. The exhibition will reveal unexpected stories about hair, from personal stories in south London salons to tales of global hair trade networks. Through our collections we will explore how hair has been used in ingenious ways across the world for making things like jewellery, clothing and rope.

Hair is also one of the defining features of mammals, so as part of the exhibition there will be a chance for visitors to explore the varied textures of mammal hair and for this we are seeking some volunteers to engage with visitors on a touch table.

See the attached role description for more details and how to apply.

We can only accept applications when volunteering roles are advertised.

Find any current roles on this page.

We take volunteers from age 18 upwards and 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 Learning or Gardening, we ask for a minimum of 5 months.

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

No, we regret we do not have the capacity to provide work experience, such as those requiring a few days or 1 – 3 weeks.

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