Volunteer Induction as an Archive & Collections Assistant at YNHM ☠️

Today, I began my volunteer role with the Yorkshire Natural History Museum, joining the archives and collections team to support the care, documentation, and accessibility of the museum’s natural history collections. My induction meeting with Brian, the Director, gave me the chance to discuss both the museum’s expectations and what I hope to gain from this opportunity. And I will be starting in two weeks at their archive site.

As an Archive and Collections Assistant (Volunteer), my responsibilities include cataloguing and documenting artefacts, digitising records, and ensuring specimens are correctly labelled and stored. With a collection of over 15,000 objects but limited display space, this work is vital to avoid risks such as mould or damage and to ensure long-term preservation.

This role is especially meaningful for me. I’ve had a passion for natural history since childhood, with regular visits to Wollaton Hall sparking my curiosity. Volunteering at YNHM allows me to build on my existing specimen, archive, and collections experience while developing new techniques in natural history specimen preparation—skills that also enhance the care of my own personal collection.

Volunteering at YNHM represents an important step in my career path within museums and heritage. I’m looking forward to developing specialist skills in collections care while supporting the museum in making its unique collections more accessible.

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✨ Learn more about my work and aspirations here: My Portfolio