Mining museum's helpers to go under the spotlight

The National Coal Mining Museum will be championing the work of their helpers during National Volunteers' Week.
SHOWING THE WAY: A volunteer at the National Coal Mining Museum.SHOWING THE WAY: A volunteer at the National Coal Mining Museum.
SHOWING THE WAY: A volunteer at the National Coal Mining Museum.

The tourist attraction in Overton will launch their first volunteer showcase on Sunday, June 5.

It will recognise the contributions of their volunteers and encourage others to come along and join them.

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The event at New Road will provide an opportunity for people to experience what volunteering life is like at the museum.

The 28-strong current volunteer team supports a range of activities including visitor experience, creative arts and storytelling, family engagement, conservation, and research.

Volunteer coordinator Sally-Ann Burley said: “Volunteers have played a major part in the museum success and will be an integral part of the Museum’s development, We are very grateful to all of our volunteers for their tireless commitment and support, and are excited to be able to welcome more people to our friendly team in a range of new visitor-focused roles.”

The event will show potential volunteers the wide range of roles available and also highlight the museum’s brand new Hope Explore, which will offer visitors a new experience to see and hear about mining life on the surface.

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Volunteer Jordan Miers said: “I knew nothing about the story behind Hope Pit and the work of the miners, who worked to ensure that their colleagues received ventilation, power and an instant repair service for their equipment, until I helped out with piloting the new Hope Pit exploration experience.

“The jewel in the crown will be when visitors go into the Hope Pit surface tunnel, which is kitted out as a working tunnel, and will get a real sense of underground working. We just need a cohort of experienced ex-miners to help us release the power of this project”

People interested in volunteering at the museum are encouraged to attend the showcase between 10am and 4pm on June 5. They can join the Hope Explore experience to see for themselves what this new volunteer-led role will involve. People will have the chance to meet the team, find out more about what’s involved and register their interest.