Interested in gaining hands-on museum and heritage sector experience? The Rum Story is actively recruiting to a range of volunteering opportunities that support the preservation and accessibility of Whitehaven’s heritage. We are recruiting for:
- Visitor Experience Volunteers
- Collection Cataloguing Volunteers
Visitor Experience Volunteers
We are looking for local people with excellent people and communication skills, who are welcoming and inclusive. We want your help in making The Rum Story’s important and challenging history even more thought-provoking and engaging for visitors. You will be based in the attraction, answer visitors’ questions, share facts and stories to make the history relatable and help run tours, workshops and events. Your input will support The Rum Story to become an even more popular and educational visitor attraction.
Read the Visitor Experience Volunteer role description.
Collection Cataloguing Volunteers
We are looking for local people who are methodical, practical and have good team-working and IT skills. Your help will enable us to better understand our collection. You will be based behind the scenes of the attraction and will work with a small team under the guidance of a professional conservator. You will create a digital inventory and catalogue of The Rum Story’s collection, which will help us to better understand its cultural and historical significance, and go on to share and preserve the collection much more effectively and responsibly.
Read the Collections Cataloguing Volunteer role description.
How do I apply?
If you’re interested, send katy.haigh@rumstory.co.uk an email telling her a bit about you, which role you’re interested in and why. Look at the role descriptions above for more details first, including about what we can cover in terms of expenses. We want to be flexible and inclusive so please don’t be afraid to ask any questions. We particularly welcome applications from Black and Global Majority people.
Updated 24 June May 2026
