Please note that placements in archives and records management are currently on hold whilst we conduct a review of our volunteering placements.

Do you enjoy bringing order out of chaos? Are you interested in twentieth century history? Are you thinking of pursuing a career in archives or conservation?

Churchill Archives Centre offers volunteer placements for those who are aged 18 or over, and interested in a career in archives, records management or conservation.

Archives and records management volunteers

Placements for those interested in a career in archives and/or records management are between one week and two weeks, or the equivalent in half-days or full days over a longer period (e.g. one day per week for six weeks). Placements will involve the following elements:

• A basic box listing or description task, perhaps on a new collection, which would be the main element of the placement.
• Answering some enquiries from researchers.
• A session or two shadowing the archivist or archives assistant on duty in the reading room, helping to produce archive files for readers.
• A tour of the conservation workshop.
• An introduction to records management and a basic records management task.
• An introduction to digital archives.
• An introduction to making copies of archives (reprographics).
• Depending on the timing of the placement, there may be the opportunity to help out with a visiting group, e.g. preparing a small exhibition.

Conservation volunteers

Placements for those interested in a career in conservation are flexible. Usually, they are dependent on the candidate being already on, or applying for, a conservation course. Placements will involve the following elements:

• Preservation packaging of collections containing archival materials.
• Making bespoke enclosures or simple boxes.
• Longer term placements may involve surface dry cleaning and simple paper repairs.

To all volunteers, we can offer a free lunch in Hall each day and travel expenses up to a maximum of £5 per day. Unfortunately, we cannot offer accommodation, so volunteers must live within commuting distance of Cambridge.

Contact us

If you would like to find out more, please e-mail us at [email protected] marking your email for the attention of Hannah James and Madelin Evans (archive placement) or Sarah Lewery (conservation placement). We ask all potential volunteers to come in for a brief tour of the Archives Centre, so they can see the working environment and discuss the placement further.