Volunteer with University Collections
Volunteering plays an important role for University Collections at the University of St Andrews and benefits the individuals who participate.
You do not need any experience to apply for a volunteer post. Volunteers:
- work on a specific project with defined outcomes
- receive a one-to-one mentoring session with a member of the University Collections team
- get access to workshops designed to develop their skills
The volunteer policy (PDF) offers more information about volunteering with us.
How to apply
Volunteer opportunities are advertised on this webpage throughout the year.
To apply, complete the University Museums Volunteering form (Word) and email it to museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk.
You may be invited to an informal interview.
- Sessions take place on Wednesday afternoons during University of St Andrews term time.
- Sessions are delivered in blocks of four weeks throughout the academic year.
- Volunteers will support the session itself, with some additional time for preparation, set-up and pack-down.
- Dates and times will be confirmed in advance.
- Supporting the planning and preparation of Create and Connect sessions.
- Assisting with setting up and tidying away materials and activities.
- Welcoming participants and helping create a positive atmosphere.
- Supporting participants during creative activities and workshops.
- Helping facilitate conversations and social interaction between participants.
- Contributing ideas for future sessions and activities.
- Assisting with the delivery of events and special activities.
- Helping source and prepare creative resources and materials.
- Supporting engagement with museum collections and creative practice activities.
- Working alongside student groups, university services and external partners.
- Assisting with promoting sessions and encouraging participation.
- Helping gather participant feedback and reflections.
- Supporting the project team with administration where required.
- Observing and developing skills in session facilitation and community engagement.
- Contributing to a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for all participants.
- Gain practical experience in developing and delivering wellbeing programmes.
- Build confidence facilitating activities and engaging with participants.
- Develop skills in event planning and delivery.
- Gain experience using creative practices to support wellbeing and engagement.
- Learn how museums and cultural organisations contribute to health, wellbeing and community building.
- Develop communication, organisation and teamwork skills.
- Gain experience working with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.
- Learn about inclusive approaches to engagement and participation.
- Enhance experience relevant to careers in museums, education, community engagement, wellbeing, arts and culture.
- Make a positive contribution to the student experience at the University of St Andrews.
- Friendly, approachable and welcoming.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Reliable and organised.
- Comfortable working with a range of people and groups.
- Interested in supporting student wellbeing.
- Able to work collaboratively as part of a team.
- Willing to take initiative and contribute ideas.
- Flexible and enthusiastic about trying new activities.
- Open to learning, feedback and new experiences.
- Interest in student wellbeing and community building.
- Interest in museums, heritage or cultural engagement.
- Interest in creative practice and arts-based activities.
- Interest in education, learning and public engagement.
- Enjoyment of working with people and creating welcoming environments.
- Interest in planning and delivering events.
- Curiosity about how creativity can support wellbeing and social connection.
- Interest in gaining practical experience in community-focused programmes.
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Time commitment: Sessions run on the first Friday of every month at the Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews. Volunteers are asked to support during the session, with some time before and after for set-up and tidying up.
Brief description of the role
This role involves supporting our toddler activity sessions at St Andrews Wardlaw Museum.
Volunteers will assist with singing, reading, crafts, interactive play. With additional assistance to setting up and tidying. Volunteers are encouraged to join in with the fun and help develop new creative ideas.
The opportunity is perfect for anyone who loves working with 0-5 year olds, creating a welcoming and playful learning environment for families.
What’s involved?
This role could include:
- Assisting coordinator with setting up and packing away.
- Helping with craft activities, including preparing and supporting children with materials.
- Taking part in singing and reading sessions.
- Helping to supervise and engage children during museum-based activities and play.
- Assisting with developing and preparing activity ideas.
- Providing general support to help sessions run smoothly.
By getting involved in this role you will:
- Help create fun, engaging, and educational experiences for toddlers and their families within a museum setting.
- Gain hands-on experience in supporting early years activities, from crafts to interactive play and storytelling.
- Support a museum-based program, learning how historical spaces can be used for public engagement and learning.
- Build confidence in assisting with group activities.
- Improve communication skills by interacting with children, families, and the coordinator.
- Enhance problem-solving and adaptability, responding to the needs of children during activities.
- Experience working in an educational and cultural setting of a museum.
Ideal skills
- Interest in working with young children and supporting activities
- Creative, patient and enthusiastic
- Clear communication with children and adults
- Willingness to engage through play and museum activities
- Open to feedback and collaborative development
Ideal interests
- Enjoyment of creative activities such as arts and crafts
- Interest in singing, storytelling, and reading
- Curiosity about museums, history, and learning through play
- Interest in early years learning and development
- Enjoyment of working with families and St Andrew’s local community
- Willingness to get involved and try new activities
How to get involved
To be considered for this role complete a Volunteering form (Word) and send it to museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk.
You may be invited for an informal interview to check that this is the right role for you.I have questions
If you have questions about this role, please contact Ross Christie, Learning and Engagement Manager (museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk)
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Time commitment:
- The volunteer can attend up to all 10 Common Ground session.
- Sessions will take place at Glenwood High School, in Glenrothes during November – March, every other week, with a Christmas gap. The session run Thursdays 3.30 – 6pm in Glenrothes. Transport from St Andrews can be provided.
- The volunteer will support the session, with some additional time before and after for welcoming participants, preparation and tidying.
- Session dates and times will be confirmed in advance.
About Common Ground
Common Ground is a collaborative programme bringing together secondary school pupils and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners from across Fife.
Delivered by the University of St Andrews Museums Learning and Engagement Team, the programme uses creative practice, museum collections and shared experiences to explore themes including community, place, culture, belonging, home and the environment.
The 2026/27 programme will focus on developing stronger local connections by concentrating activity in Glenwood High School in Glenrothes. The programme will bring participants together through creative workshops, museum engagement and collaborative activities.
A key aim of Common Ground is to create opportunities for participants from different backgrounds to meet, share experiences, develop relationships and build a stronger sense of community and belonging.
Brief description of the role
The Community and Conversation Volunteer will provide friendly, informal support to participants during Common Ground sessions.
The volunteer will help create an inclusive and welcoming environment where participants feel comfortable communicating with one another, sharing their ideas and taking part in activities.
The role is particularly focused on encouraging conversation, connection and confidence between participants from different backgrounds.
Important note about the role
The volunteer is not expected to provide formal ESOL teaching or act as a translator. Their role is to provide friendly, informal support that encourages communication, confidence and connection between participants.
The volunteer will work alongside the Museums Learning and Engagement Team and creative practitioners, following their guidance and supporting the activities taking place. They will not be responsible for leading the session or delivering specialist teaching.
What’s involved?
This role could include:
- Welcoming participants and helping them feel comfortable when they arrive.
- Chatting informally with participants before and after activities.
- Encouraging participants to talk to and work with people they may not know.
- Supporting small-group conversations during creative workshops.
- Encouraging participants who may be less confident to share their ideas.
- Asking friendly, open questions to help conversations develop.
- Supporting participants to communicate their experiences, ideas and opinions.
- Encouraging participants to listen to and learn from one another.
- Supporting communication where differences in language or confidence make conversation more difficult.
- Joining in with creative activities and conversations alongside participants.
- Helping create a respectful and welcoming environment for people from different cultural and language backgrounds.
- Supporting the coordinator and creative practitioner where needed.
- Sharing observations and feedback with the project team to help develop future sessions.
By getting involved in this role you will:
- Help bring people from different backgrounds together.
- Support participants to build confidence in communicating with others.
- Help create meaningful connections between young people and ESOL learners.
- Gain experience working in an inclusive community-based programme.
- Develop communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
- Gain confidence working with people from different cultural and language backgrounds.
- Learn how creative practice and museums can support community engagement and belonging.
- Develop skills in encouraging participation and informal conversation.
- Gain experience working alongside creative practitioners and museum professionals.
- Contribute to a programme that explores identity, culture, community, home and belonging.
Ideal skills
- Friendly, approachable and welcoming.
- A good listener who is patient and understanding.
- Confident communicating with different people.
- Able to encourage conversation without putting pressure on participants.
- Respectful and open-minded towards different cultures, languages and experiences.
- Comfortable working with young people and adults.
- Able to work collaboratively as part of a team.
- Reliable and willing to get involved.
- Open to learning, feedback and new experiences.
Ideal interests
- Interest in community and working with people from different backgrounds.
- Interest in culture, identity, belonging and place.
- Enjoyment in meeting new people and having conversations.
- Interest in museums, creative practice and community learning.
- Interest in supporting young people and ESOL learners.
- Curiosity about different cultures, experiences and perspectives.
- Interest in how creative activities can bring people together.
How to get involved
To be considered for this role complete a Volunteering form (Word) and send it to museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk.
You may be invited for an informal interview to check that this is the right role for you.I have questions
If you have questions about this role, please contact Naomi Cooper, Learning and Engagement Officer (museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk)
- Develop your skills in numbering museum objects using paraloid and archival pens
- Practice cataloguing
- Develop your attention to detail
- Practice shaping plastazote to fit the matrix seals
- Get to see behind the scenes at the museum
- Meet regularly with a mentor who will guide you in the development of the skills and
experiences you want - Have a good time
- Meet like-minded people with an interest in history, culture, the arts and science
- Receive travel expenses to and from your placemen
- Excellent handwriting skills
- Good understanding of matrix seals and their themes
- Good crafting skills; familiar and experience using a knife to cut plastazote
- Good understanding of object cataloguing
- Attention to detail
- Interest in Medieval History and material culture
- Interest in working in museums with objects and collections
Time commitment:
About Create and Connect
Create and Connect is a student wellbeing programme delivered by the University of St Andrews Museums Learning and Engagement Team.
The programme provides opportunities for students to come together in a supportive and welcoming environment to explore wellbeing, creativity, connection and community through a range of creative activities and shared experiences.
Sessions are designed to encourage participants to take time for themselves, meet new people, develop confidence and explore different creative practices. Activities may include arts and crafts, object handling, creative workshops, museum engagement, discussion activities and collaborative projects.
Create and Connect aims to support student wellbeing by creating opportunities for meaningful social connection, creative expression and positive experiences throughout the academic year.
Brief description of the role
The Create and Connect Support Volunteer will assist the Museums Learning and Engagement Team in planning, preparing and delivering Create and Connect wellbeing sessions.
The volunteer will help create a welcoming and inclusive environment where students feel comfortable participating in activities, meeting new people and engaging with creative wellbeing experiences.
This role offers hands-on experience in session development, event delivery, creative engagement and partnership working within a university and museum setting.
Important note about the role
The volunteer will work alongside the Museums Learning and Engagement Team and will receive support and guidance throughout their volunteering experience.
The volunteer is not expected to independently lead sessions but will have opportunities to contribute ideas, support activities and gain experience in facilitating creative wellbeing programmes.
The role is intended as a developmental opportunity for individuals interested in community engagement, wellbeing, museums, education, creative practice or event management.
What’s involved?
This role could include:
By getting involved in this role you will:
Ideal skills
Ideal interests
How to get involved
To be considered for this role complete a Volunteering form (Word) and send it to museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk.
You may be invited for an informal interview to check that this is the right role for you.
I have questions
If you have questions about this role, please contact Ross Christie, Learning and Engagement Manager (museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk)
Time commitment: 60+ hours, flexible over a number of weeks.
Brief description of the role
The volunteer will assign Object Numbers to the seal matrices and rehouse in a new storage cabinet.
The ideal candidate should have a good understanding of museum object numbering and be keen to learn how to use Paraloid B72 and archival pens to write numbers on the very small objects. The ideal candidate will be able to write very neatly, consistently and small enough to fit on the objects. Accuracy and good attention to detail is important.
Once the object numbering is complete the seal matrices will be rehoused in a new storage cabinet. Experience of working plastazote and using a sharp knife to shape the plastazote to individual seal matrices would be beneficial.
Familiarity with Risk Assessments would be useful.
What’s involved?
By getting involved in this role you will:
Ideal skills
Ideal interests
How to get involved
To be considered for this role complete a Volunteering form (Word) and send it to museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk.
You may be invited for an informal interview to check that this is the right role for you.
I have questions
If you have questions about this role, please contact Dr Gearóid Mac a’ Ghobhainn, Museums Curator (via museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk)