Hampshire Cultural Trust Chilcomb House, Chilcomb Lane Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8RB 01962 678140

Collections Volunteer Role Description – Accession Register transcriptions

This role is in support of our collections team and will help the team locate, catalogue and exhibit objects in Hampshire Cultural Trust’s (HCT) collections.

Purpose of the role The purpose of the role is to assist in the transcription into an excel document of the handwritten accession registers held by HCT. This will enable the efficient searching of the registers for objects in the collections.

Background information The Hampshire Cultural Trust cares for the Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council Museum Collections. Whilst much is on display at the trust’s venues around Hampshire, this role is primarily concerned in working with the extensive collections located in the museum stores at Chilcomb House and nearby at the F2 store and Bar End stores in Winchester.

When objects are first accessioned (taken) into a museum collection basic information about the objects and where they came from are recorded in a register. In the past this was often the basic record but the records were then computerised in a database and we now rely very heavily on the database to manage the collections. With such large collections the computer records are by no means comprehensive and we sometimes have to rely on the accession registers to find objects and confirm details. However, even in pdf format we cannot conduct word searches and we have to spend lots of time looking through page after page of registers. This task will enable quick searches of the accession register and therefore better management of the collections and improved opportunities to display objects.

Typical tasks and duties:  Reading hand-written accession register in scanned pdf format  Transcribing information into an excel spreadsheet (excel pro-forma supplied)

This role could suit you if you are:  Someone who can work on their own from home and has the IT equipment and software to perform the role – a pdf reader such as Adobe and Microsoft Excel and an internet connection  Have an attention to detail  Want to fit volunteering into your other commitments  Have basic experience of working with Microsoft Excel, though training will be provide  Interested in working with museum collections and objects  A patient, organised person  Interested in areas covered by the collections and wish to apply your knowledge.

What we can offer you: You’ll be part of a friendly and dedicated team with the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills and pass on your own experience, to engage in an activity that others consider important and to build career-related skills and abilities. Most importantly, you’ll be playing a part in keeping this very special site open.

Hampshire Cultural Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1158583). Registered company no. 8986225 Hampshire Cultural Trust Chilcomb House, Chilcomb Lane Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8RB 01962 678140

The restrictions on our working practices enforced by Covid-19 necessitate that this task is initially a home-working task. However, when restrictions are lifted the work can be continued at our Chilcomb House site on the outskirts of Winchester. You will have the support of the collections team and can call upon them for assistance and further guidance. When the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted other opportunities may become available.

 You will be part of a friendly and dedicated team with the opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills and pass on your own experience  You will work directly with the diverse collections cared for by the Hampshire Cultural Trust, with the chance to learn about and handle a wide range of objects  You have the opportunity to learn about and receive training in museum collections management  Regular volunteers receive a team card which entitles them to free entry to paid trust venues and a 10% discount in all cafes and shop  We are happy to provide references after a reasonable period of volunteering  Refreshments when working from our site at Chilcomb (tea, coffee, biscuits!)  Meet like-minded people and make new friends

Training and support You will receive appropriate information, instruction, training and ongoing supervision. Day to day supervision would be available from the Visitor Services Assistant and Manager. In-depth venue induction on procedures plus on-going support and refresher sessions would also be arranged for all new volunteers.

Commitment Requested Physical volunteer opportunities are available weekdays, but not normally weekends. The working day is generally 9am-5pm. We are very flexible about when you volunteer. Most volunteers, on average, give their time once a week.

More information and contact We are open Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm and Sat 10am – 4pm. We are very flexible about when you volunteer, but require a commitment to volunteer at least once a fortnight, most volunteers on average give their time once a week. You are welcome to apply to more than one volunteer position.

For more information, or if you are interested in applying, please contact [email protected]

Hampshire Cultural Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1158583). Registered company no. 8986225