All volunteers are essential in achieving the mission of NMMC, which is to promote an understanding:
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 of small boats and their place in people’s lives and of the maritime heritage of Cornwall
Jonathan Griffin, the Museum’s Director, expects that we all make customer care our first priority. ‘Our aim is to exceed visitor’s expectations through the warmth of our welcome, through our care of them whilst they are our guests and through what we offer them in the
Museum’.
The most important role for all our volunteers is to exceed the visitor’s expectations through the warmth of our welcome and through our care of them whilst they are our guests.
Our Galleries
We have two main collections; the National Small Boat Collection, including objects and archives which relate to small boats and the collection of objects representing the maritime history of Cornwall.
The Volunteer Role
Gallery volunteers provide guidance, assistance and knowledge to our visitors as they explore the Museum and our collections. They enhance the visitor’s experience, leading to a greater understanding of our collections, not just making their visit interesting but inspiring, engaging and fascinating.
Key Tasks
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Provide a welcoming presence, engaging and interacting with visitors of all ages
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Be able to deal with visitor enquiries in a friendly and courteous manner
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Be aware of the arrangements for visitors with particular needs and provide help and assistance as appropriate
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Monitor the galleries in order to protect the exhibitions and displays and to ensure the safety of visitors
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If willing and happy to, provide a short ten minute talk on a particular exhibition/display to our visitors e.g. Lookout, Polar Exhibition, demonstration on knots
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Inform the Duty Manager of any problems via the radio e.g. lost children, faulty
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 equipment, first aid requests
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Attend Department meetings, as appropriate
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Undertake training, including induction and role specific training
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Be fully conversant with fire and emergency evacuation procedures, and attend evacuation training at least once per year
Work in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy
Represent the NMMC in a positive and friendly manner
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Hours and Commitment
The Museum is open seven days a week (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day) from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm. Gallery volunteers are required for two shifts per day, each being covered by a number of volunteers per day:
Mornings:
Afternoons:
9.45 am until 1.30 pm
1.30 pm until 5.00 pm
Gallery volunteers are asked to attend two sessions per week, if possible. These sessions can be on the same day, but the majority of our volunteers prefer to do two sessions on different days i.e. two half days per week.
Key Skills
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Good communication skills
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Ability to share information and knowledge to visitors without being asked
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Friendly, approachable and helpful
Supervision and Support
Our Visitor Services Manager, Amy Glover, has overall responsibility for managing our
Gallery volunteers. Day-to-day supervision and support for Gallery volunteers is provided by members of the Visitor Services team, and in particular, the team member who is Duty
Manager for the day.
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