Volunteer

Volunteers are at the heart of Elizabeth Gaskell’s House. When visitors come to the House, almost everyone they meet will be a volunteer, whether it’s in the House itself or in our Garden. Without this award-winning team, we would not be able to open our doors to the general public.

We’re always recruiting new volunteers. We believe in giving everyone a chance to volunteer with us. Our volunteers come from all different backgrounds and age groups, and they all want different things from volunteering. For some, it’s a chance to gain experience working in heritage, whilst others want to make new friends. Whatever your reason for volunteering, you don’t need any experience. All we ask is that you’re enthusiastic and willing to learn.

Please note, we are not currently able to accept applications from people under the age of 16.

What do our volunteers do?

Our volunteers support the House by working in various different roles. Most of our volunteers come in on our open days, which are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. They work on our Welcome Desk, in our Tea Room and Gift Shop, or as a Room Steward. Some of them also help with events, weddings, tours, and some behind-the-scenes work.

What will you gain from volunteering?

Flexibility – volunteer as often or as little as you like
Full training for each role including how to use our ticket system, speaking to members of the public, using the till / card machine
Extra training opportunities, such as conservation cleaning, volunteer-led talks, and trips to heritage sites
Help with events, tours and weddings
Travel reimbursements of up to £5 per day

Further information about our volunteer experience can be found on our Why Should I Volunteer page.

Accessibility

We welcome applications from volunteers with physical, sensory and learning disabilities.

The House is physically accessible, including:

A ramp entrance if you use mobility aids such as wheelchairs or mobility scooters
A lift to all floors
Accessible toilets on ground and first floors
Assistant dogs are welcome

If you require other support, such as access to a quiet space or use of adapted training information (for example, large print or easy read), we can accommodate that.

How can I apply?

Apply online

Fill out the form below and a member of the team will be in touch about the next steps.

Apply via telephone

Phone the House on 0161 273 2215. Please note you may have to leave a voicemail and one of the team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Apply in-person

Come to the House on one of our open days (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 11am-3pm) to collect a paper application form.

What happens after I apply?

You will be invited to attend our next volunteer induction sessions, which are usually held on Thursdays throughout the year and take place over two sessions, both held on the same day.

The first session provides an introduction to the House and information about our volunteering opportunities. The second session covers volunteer training and includes completing any required paperwork.

Please note that the content and format of these sessions may occasionally change depending on staff and volunteer availability. If this affects your induction, we will let you know in advance.

We do not run induction sessions during July, August, November, or December. If you apply during these months, you may need to wait until the next available session.

If you have any accessibility requirements you would like us to know about before these sessions – for example, access to presentation slides, large-print application forms, need to use the lift, or use of our accessible parking space – please don’t hesitate to tell us.

Current volunteering opportunities

At the moment, we are recruiting volunteers to support us in the following roles:

Welcome Desk Volunteer

You will welcome visitors to the House, check and sell tickets, and answer questions from visitors, as well as covering gaps stewarding our period rooms. This role is available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. If you are interested in this role, please select Open Day Volunteer on the application form.

Tea Room Volunteer

You will serve drinks and food in our Tea Room and sell items from our gift shop. You can read more about our Tea Room on our Tea Room page, and you can visit our online shop on Museum Shops. This role is available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. If you are interested in this role, please select Open Day Volunteer on the application form.

Micro Volunteering

Choose between volunteering for the Front Desk + a Period Room, or Tea Room + a Period Room. You will volunteer over a shorter period, either 6 full-day shifts or 12 half-day shifts. This opportunity is perfect if you’re looking for something more short-term. This role is available Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

A volunteer wearing a green jumper facing the camera, talking to 2 visitors who are facing away from the camera.

Before you apply

Please note that we are currently only recruiting volunteers for the roles listed above.
While we do not recruit directly for behind-the-scenes roles (such as cataloguing), volunteers may have the opportunity to get involved with this once they are established in their volunteer role.
We do not offer internships or paid work experience opportunities. Placements may be available for people aged 16 or over, but these are considered on a case-by-case basis and are subject to availability.