Grand Junction at St Mary Magdalene is a community, arts and heritage venue based at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, run by Paddington Development Trust.
Through our diverse and eclectic community programme we present a wide range of heritage and arts-focused activities for young people, families, and adults, as well as cultural performances, exhibitions and talks. Grand Junction is running a National Heritage Lottery Funded project called Our Shared Heritage, working with members of the Middle Eastern and North African communities from inner West London to co-create an exhibition exploring the histories and stories of people from the region. For the past year, an artist facilitator has been working with a group of local people with Middle Eastern/North African heritage to provide material for an exhibition exploring the lives and stories of Middle Eastern and North African people in West London. The exhibition will run for one-month at Grand Junction in July 2024 as well as being available online as a digital exhibition.
We are looking for volunteers to invigilate this exhibition between 4th – 25th July being the first point of contact for visitors, ensuring they have a welcoming and informative experience.
This role is suited to people who:
- Are clear and confident communicators, and enjoy engaging with the public
- Are friendly, approachable and welcoming, and champion inclusivity
- Enjoy working as part of a team, but also thrive when working independently
- Are committed to excellent visitor service skills
- Want to gain new skills and experience, whilst making a difference in their local community
- Have an interest in community exhibitions and exploring the stories of local people
Working under the supervision of Grand Junction staff, Exhibition volunteers will:
- Warmly welcome visitors as they arrive, making them feel valued and comfortable, and enrich their experience by supporting visitors to get the most out of their visit to Grand Junction.
- Offer information about the exhibition, answer visitors’ questions and provide directions within the venue.
- Provide support and assistance to visitors with disabilities or special requirements to ensure accessibility and an inclusive experience.
- Monitor the flow of visitors to prevent overcrowding and ensure a safe environment.
- Keep an eye out for any suspicious activities or security concerns and report them to a member of staff
- Encourage and support visitors to complete exhibition feedback forms
- Offer visitors information about our What’s On programme, and other activities and events at Grand Junction
- Volunteers may wish to get involved in exhibition events, administration, social media, photography and other exhibition related tasks.
All volunteers will be required to wear Grand Junction lanyards and for special events, volunteer t-shirts or jackets
Volunteers must be prepared to undertake pre-offer checks, including references.
Volunteers in this role will:
Receive ongoing training, including a detailed volunteer induction and training specific to the role.
Receive reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, in accordance with the PDT volunteer policy
Receive ongoing support from Grand Junction’s Volunteer Manager, and other Grand Junction staff
Be supported to use their volunteering to access employment-focused opportunities, such as advice and signposting, where relevant
Be invited to regular volunteer social gatherings, community events, and talks