Volunteering at the Mary Rose | The Mary Rose
Volunteering at the Mary Rose

From the earliest days of the Mary Rose project, we’ve relied on the work of volunteers.

We’re always looking for new people to join our team, are you one of them?

 

 

Become a museum volunteer

Every day the Mary Rose museum receives hundreds of visitors. To make their visit as enjoyable as possible we need passionate people of all ages to share their knowledge of Tudor history and our collection, and you could be one of them!

Whether it’s helping with family workshops, delivering guided tours, assisting our education team with schools or answering questions for visitors, we have a wide range of roles available.

Current opportunities

Opportunities for volunteers are advertised in our recruitment page.

If no opportunities are currently shown, get in touch via our contact form

What do volunteers do at the Mary Rose?

Handling Tables
Volunteer-run handling tables allow visitors to handle real and replica Tudor objects, and to find out more about the collection, through informal conversation.

 

"You never really get used to the look on people's faces as they experience the feel of Tudor timbers, or the smell of pitch applied to rope before the birth of Shakespeare. Being part of that experience is what makes your day."

Simon, volunteer since 2007

Guided Tours
A range of guided tour for all levels of interest are delivered by volunteers though out the day. Full training is given, although additional learning is useful!

 

"My day can be very varied, I might lead an adult group on a tour of the Museum, guide a family visiting for a birthday celebration or demonstrate to a class of enthusiastic children how to fire a Tudor cannon.  My standard day is never dull!!"

Tony, volunteer since 2013

Family Activities
Volunteers help conduct family activities and workshops in our Learning Centre one weekend per month and during school holidays

 

"I love helping with the children’s activities in the museum.  We have fun events during the school holiday and have practised calligraphy, made our own Tudor tiles, pomanders and even designed our own model of the ship's dog Hatch!!"

Goli, volunteer since 2018

"If you enjoy meeting people and have a positive attitude then the Mary Rose is a great place to volunteers.  You learn at your own pace and it certainly keeps your brain cells active!!  You find out the most incredible facts about that fateful day in history and it’s such a fascinating story, it’s surprising how much you remember.  It is a privilege to work in one of the UK’s most unique Museums.  Once you enlist, you are hooked, so come on board and join our crew."

Jan, Volunteer since 2017

FAQs about volunteering

Who old do I need to be to volunteer?

All volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

How often would I need to volunteer?

We offer a range of volunteer opportunities, all with different levels of time commitment and flexibility.

How long do I need to volunteer for?

We have a range of volunteer opportunities with different time commitments. For most visitor-facing roles, you'll be asked to commit to volunteering for a minimum of six months. 

Do I need to wear a uniform/ costume?

Volunteers are issued with a uniform of a shirt and jumper.

While we do have costumes available for volunteers to wear while working, it is not compulsory.

Do I need to be qualified?

No. While some knowledge is always appreciated, we will always provide training , and you will spend time shadowing another volunteer before being expected to go out on your own.

Interested in volunteering?

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with us, are aged over the age of 16 and available from 09:45am-17:30 for at least one day each week we would like to hear from you. 

Fill out this form, and let us know you are interested. Our volunteer manager will be in touch within a few days.