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LONDON VOLUNTEERS IN AWARDS 2015 FOREWORD

Museums both large and small are amongst the greatest assets we have in our city, offering insights into history and the wider world. Volunteers have a crucial role to play in their success, offering knowledge and enthusiasm that help make them custodians of these wonderful institutions. Our own Team programme recognises the importance of volunteering in the capital and we should all applaud all the dedicated individuals picking up this year’s London Volunteers in Museums Awards.

Boris Johnson Mayor of London

‘Over the past few years we have supported London’s volunteers and Volunteer Managers through our training programmes and by offering advice and support to the network and awards steering group. We are delighted this year to provide funding towards the LVMA awards ceremony, such an important event recognising the contribution that volunteers make to museums across London.’ LONDON VOLUNTEERS IN MUSEUMS AWARDS 2015 Ben Travers Regional Development Manager BEST TEAM

WINNER: This nomination is for a team who have From autumn 2006 to March 2015, our HIGHLY COMMENDED: Their collaborative enthusiasm for the Without the enthusiasm and commitment Warship Conservation Team, been working to preserve HMS Warship Conservation Volunteers have Archaeology Online Team, subject is infectious and their output for the of the Props and Costumes team, London – a unique survivor of Britain’s maritime collectively donated over 29,000 hours LAARC () Museum is of an incredibly high standard. Transport Museum would not be able to heritage. volunteering in support of the conservation The team has taken huge ownership and offer this level of personal engagement (HMS Belfast) plan; most recently restoring the gun The Museum of London’s Archaeological invested in the project and they work with and facilitation to families outside school During the past year there have been The Imperial War Museum was director and currently working on the boat is part of the Museum’s energy beyond expectation. holidays. We are delighted that their some major changes to the structure of planned before the First World War crane whilst another small sub team has Archaeology Department. Based at contribution is being recognised through the Conservation department of the ship been digitising original drawings of the ship Mortimer Wheeler House in Hackney, Props and Costumes these awards. had even come to an end and first leaving only a Conservation Manager and opened to visitors in 1920. Today and making operation and maintenance it holds information concerning nearly Volunteers, two museum technicians to preserve the 8,500 archaeological sites that have been RUNNERS-UP: Imperial War Museums (IWM) manuals available. last of Britain’s big gun armoured ships investigated in Greater London over the focuses on the causes, course and from World War II and the Cold War era. The team are also involved with special The London Transport Museum is based in Centre for Human Bioarchaeology past 100 years. Museum of London consequences of conflicts involving events hosted by HMS Belfast and man and has a large volunteer Volunteers, The move to create a Warship Conservation an information centre where they explain The Archaeology Online volunteer team who get involved in all areas of the Britain and its Commonwealth volunteer team to support staff was no Christina Broom Volunteers, since 1914. Across five branches to visitors what is being done to preserve project seeks to get the World’s Largest museum. Museum of London Docklands easy feat and it shows the dedication of the Archaeological Archive online, one artefact of IWM more than 1,000 volunteers the ship, how work is carried out and The Props and Costumes volunteers are volunteers that they persevered to make the at a time. Since last October Guy, John Collections Volunteer Team, what pieces of equipment are currently part of the learning department and are are involved in front of house and transition work. Staff and volunteers now and Sunny have formed a dedicated team Bethlem Museum of the Mind undergoing treatment. an excellent example of what volunteers behind the scenes roles including: work closely together to ensure that this who have continued to offer their time and can achieve when they work together! As e-Mesozoic Volunteer Team, Collections Support, IWM ambitious project plan is successfully met. patience throughout the year to digitise a team, they have created a facilitated Natural History Museum Members Recruitment, Interaction, our collection. Importantly their experience costume programme for family visitors to Specialist Office Support, Visitor means that they are the first Archaeology Front of House Volunteer Gallery help bring characters from the past to life. Orientation Briefings, and Warship Online team to move beyond digitisation, Assistant Team, Gallery They researched the characters, helped to and to start researching the wider context Conservation. decide on the format of the sessions and Garden Volunteers, and insights the objects provide using are now out on the galleries delivering the Museum of the Order of St. John corresponding archaeological records. activities and also training newer members Garden Team, The team are a fantastic example of how, of the team. despite being given a highly individualistic Jewish Military Museum Volunteer What makes this team stand out is their task, they have gone out of their way Team, Jewish Museum /Jewish Military commitment to the programme and their to engage with each other as a team, Museum teamwork. They have set up a Facebook working together to strengthen each group to keep in contact with each other; Mike Sullivan & John Richardson, other’s understanding and completion taking responsibility to keep each other RAF Museum of tasks. This takes many forms from the informed when they are unable to come in simple encouragement of how best to Poppies Volunteers, and supporting new members of the team. edit an image in Photoshop, or supporting of London () The team are also really keen to make the each other in reading and understanding programme the best it can be, suggesting some of our unconventional and confusing improvements and happily trialling new archaeological records when researching methods to help activities run smoothly and the context of these objects. Warship Conservation Team from left to right: Sarah Nibloe, Geoff Lewis, Vic Ould, Sumit Kaura, guarantee visitor enjoyment. Laurence Gunzi and Joseph Cheung. BRINGING INNOVATION

WINNER: HIGHLY COMMENDED: now around 5 years forward on dealing with the catalogue. But a dedicated sub group Sarah Griffin, . Ashlyn Oprescu, the issue of lighting. double checked 100% meticulously. They Museum of the Museum have given 24,800 hours overall, and kept 1915 Crew Lists Transcription the project going when deadlines loomed. Order of St. John The holds e-volunteers, They have become online friends and, The Museum tells the story of the the world’s most important collection of Royal Museums crucially, we know many will help again with material relating to the great novelist and Order of St. John from its origins Designed to recognise and commemorate the next e-project. social campaigner. It was in this house that in eleventh century Jerusalem, the contribution of the merchant navy he achieved lasting celebrity and universal RUNNERS-UP: through to its role today with St. in the First World War, the 1915 Crew recognition as one of the world’s greatest John Ambulance and the St John Lists Transcription Project used remote Alice Walker, Natural History Museum storytellers. volunteers to index approximately 39,000 Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. The Interaction Volunteer Team Museum’s small team of staff are Ashlyn volunteers at the Museum as a merchant navy crew lists from the year Imperial War Museums (All branches) supported by over 85 volunteers Conservation Assistant; she has been 1915. These lists are held mostly at the who preserve and conserve the an invaluable support on all matters of but also at The Kirstin Sibley & Richard Waters conservation in the Museum – from pest National and the project was joint House / history and heritage of the Order trap checking, housekeeping, exhibition with The National Archives. Vestry House Museum and ensure that the collections and installation and object re-housing projects. historic sites are accessible to the Between 2012 and early 2015, over Johnston Journeys Volunteer Team, public. In early 2015, Ashlyn picked up on the issue 400 e-volunteers from around the world London Transport Museum Sarah running her school workshop: ‘Mystery in the Museum’ of light in our Museum: visitors found it downloaded photographs of individual Learning Volunteers, Museum of Sarah is currently studying for an MSc hard to see, but we were also far exceeding 1915 crew lists and transcribed the , and Packaging in Conservation for Archaeology and appropriate light levels for the sensitive information they contained into an online Museums at University College London and objects we have on display. She decided catalogue, using their home computers. Stephen White, Museum of London has been volunteering at the Museum since to take this on as her dissertation project Volunteers have captured each seaman’s Thomas Flynn, January 2014. for an MA in preventative conservation. Name, Rating, Age and Place of Birth, and and Gardens From the outset, Sarah expressed a So far this year she has invested over 250 Previous Ship. This last category allows keen interest in interpreting conservation hours in monitoring the light in the Museum family historians to research a seaman’s Time Explorer Volunteers, practices and providing the Museum’s using a range of equipment (some kindly career ‘backwards’ through the lists. As visitors with an insight into the work that loaned from the Museum Development there are no records for individual merchant (Historic Royal Palaces) team) and also investigated possible light seamen from this period this project is of goes into caring for collections. To further Valerie Ashley, Headstone Manor this, she has developed, marketed and management solutions. immeasurable value to family historians. delivered hands-on sessions for a range of As well as bringing new skills and The e-volunteers’ input was far greater audiences from families to school groups knowledge, Ashlyn has recognised the than had been anticipated. They put and her fellow volunteers. limitations and quirks of being a small in massive effort, and made invaluable Her school workshop ‘Mystery in the house museum and allowed that to inform contributions to improving the guidelines Museum’ is now part of the Museum’s the work she does. and procedures. For example, the intention had been that just 10% of the lists would regular learning offer and means, for the Collections care is one fifth of the ’s be double checked post-transcription, and first time, the offer incorporates the science role at the Museum but thanks to Ashlyn’s a disclaimer to this effect would appear in curriculum. recommendations from her studies, we are GOING THE EXTRA MILE

WINNER: His most substantial additional contribution HIGHLY COMMENDED: the origins and history of this superfamily. journeys approximately 5 hours into the John Stredwick, within the last year has been the production Chiho Ikebe, Her work will be submitted to one of the Museum at least once a week. highest impact scientific journals known. London Canal Museum of a new guide book – London Canal Natural History Museum Museum in 12 Objects – a first for the RUNNERS-UP: Michael Meech, RAF Museum The London Canal Museum is Museum. On his own initiative, John The Natural History Museum is home to Ann Wallace, an independent museum almost made a presentation to our Trustees and around 550 volunteers and over 80 million The Museum is located Horniman Museum and Gardens entirely run by volunteers that undertook the project with great energy specimens which form the world’s most in Hendon, North West London, and is a important natural history collection. The Cherie Chong, Charles Dickens Museum and persistence. world-class aviation museum focusing on occupies a former ice warehouse scientific community uses the collection on the Regents Canal. Our mission the history and development of the Royal Christine Gray, London Transport From original research, writing articles or to answer key questions about the past, Air Force. It attracts approximately 350,000 Museum is to promote and educate our commissioning them from other volunteers, present and future of the solar system, the visitors a year, from the UK and worldwide, visitors in the history and heritage to promoting the finished 76 page book, geology of our planet and life on Earth. to see its unique collections of and Frances Moore-Hill, his enthusiasm has ensured that the guide of the London waterways and Chiho joined the Museum volunteer associated artefacts. the ice trade, through exhibitions, book has been produced to the highest programme in early 2014 with the Michael has been a volunteer at the Francesca Piacentini, Museum of standards. events, our education programme Vietnamese Land Snail Fauna project. Museum for 21 years as a Tour Guide, Brands, Advertising and Packaging and on-going research. This project collected specimens from The book has significantly enhanced visitor cataloguer and event supporter. Jennifer Robbins, endangered habitats in Vietnam, partly experiences and John is now undertaking Museum of London Docklands Our volunteers provide front of house for the Frozen Ark Project, a pioneering As a Tour Guide, Michael delivers general an expanded second edition, helping to customer service for all our visitors, retail programme saving genetic diversity of tours to our visitors and specialist and The SS Robin Trust develop a children’s activity trail based on Kim Theed, assistance, educational learning sessions endangered animals allowing for possible booked tours which earn an income for the 12 objects, re-designing display panels Laurie Akehurst, for groups of school children, talks and species restoration to address future the Museum. These cover all areas of the and creating a series of information paddles London Transport Museum Depot tours for visiting adult groups and tow path extinctions. Museum (five hangars) giving details of the for visitors. walks and tunnel trips for our visitors. Much aircraft and, artefacts, together with stories Mercy Sword, Chiho established the first fully curated work also goes on behind the scenes in John richly deserves recognition for his of the history of the Royal Air Force and its John Stredwick and accessioned ‘molecular collection’, Fulham Palace research, collections care and our oral part in defence of the country from the early Michael Cavanagh, willingness to go ‘over and beyond’ his a landmark, enabling us to roll out an history project. days to the present day actions. core role and give so much time and optimised procedure to all facility users. Objects for Learning Volunteer Team, Palace (Historic Royal Palaces) John has volunteered at London Canal commitment to the museum. This work is contributing to targets within As a cataloguer, Michael is using his considerable knowledge cataloguing part Museum since 2011 and, like most of our the NHM Digital Collection Project, a Reg Weaver, The Museum volunteers, began as a Museum Assistant, Government Department driven top priority of our Photographic Collection. He is a published author and regularly talks on the Schools Volunteer Team, and progressed to become a key holder for Science Strategy. subject of the First World War and Contact Museum of London managing the day to day running of the Chiho has expanded her work to cover Patrols. museum 2 days per month. John is now traditional aspects of curation, including Sue Morris, Imperial War Museums involved in a wide range of activities such Michael wrote the script notes for a taxonomic ID, sourcing and imaging of Terry Walton, new tour of the First World War in the as conducting group tours, leading walks Type specimens from museums worldwide, Museum of the Order of St. John and talks and training up new volunteers preparing plates and researching primary Air Exhibition and produced extensive whilst still maintaining his commitment to literature to publish ‘An Illustrated List background notes to enable the Tour Visitor Services Intro Volunteer Team, his original, and essential, role. of Type Limacoidea from Vietnam’ of Guides to enhance their tours. Jewish Museum which she is the first author. She has also In a literal sense, Michael does go the extra Volunteer Programme generated and analysed DNA data from the mile because he lives in Clacton, Essex and Office Support volunteers, specimens for a major study to understand HMS Belfast (Imperial War Museums) DEVELOPING IN A ROLE

WINNER: Rosa Gomez, Tower When Rosa first joined us she had recently HIGHLY COMMENDED: The team would not have achieved what it difficult to look people in the eye and of London (Historic Royal arrived in the UK and spoke very little Connie Kavanagh, we have in the last year without Connie’s talk, let alone interact. It has been quite Palaces) English. It was extremely brave of her to Museum of London Docklands help and support. She is not the kind of a journey and a privilege to see Robert take on this volunteering role because it is person who ‘likes’ recognition and though grow and mature into a person who can Historic Royal Palaces is the regarded as one of the most challenging The Museum of London Docklands, close she certainly would not expect it, she now hold his head up and be confident independent charity that looks after roles that we offer. to , outlines the history of thoroughly deserves to be recognised with to interact with a broad range of visitors. the , Hampton the ports and docks in London; it is the this award. With confidence comes self-esteem and Rosa has shown an impressive motivation base of the London Museum Development Robert is a different person from when he Court Palace, Banqueting House, to develop and she has persevered with team. The team often use the Museum as a Robert Moriarty, HMS Belfast first started. Although one could say this , learning a new survey every month taking ‘resource’ for training courses. (Imperial War Museums) is from careful nurturing by others, this and . each challenge in her stride. Rosa’s Connie started in a new role as training The Imperial War Museum was planned achievement has been reached by Robert’s Our aim is to help everyone explore the confidence has bloomed since she started support volunteer with the London before the First World War had even come perseverance and commitment to the role. story of how monarchs and people have with us and her English is now so strong Museum Development team in April 2014 to an end and first opened to visitors shaped society, in some of the greatest that she is starting an exciting new business RUNNERS-UP: – meeting and greeting training delegates in 1920. Today Imperial War Museums palaces ever built. Although the Palaces venture as a Reflexologist. from museums across London and (IWM) focuses on the causes, course and Amy Moffat, LAARC (Museum of London) are owned by The Queen on behalf of the We wish her all the best of luck in her new helping organise bookings and resources consequences of conflicts involving Britain nation, we receive no funding from the Amanda Shultz, Charles Dickens Museum career. beforehand. Connie had never volunteered and its Commonwealth since 1914. Across Government or , so we depend in a museum before or in a role that was five branches of IWM more than 1,000 Julia Sachs, , on the support of our visitors, members, predominantly front of house. This was a volunteers are involved in front of house Advertising and Packaging donors, volunteers and sponsors. new challenge and although she was a little and behind the scenes roles including: Keith Raeburn, nervous and appeared to lack confidence Collections Support, IWM Members Rosa is a Visitor Research Volunteer London Transport Museum organising exit surveys with visitors to find in her own abilities the team took to her Recruitment, Interaction, Specialist Office out how they engaged with the site and Rosa with the installation: Blood Swept Lands straight away. Connie met the challenge Support, Visitor Orientation Briefings, and Louise Bascombe, and Seas of Red whether they enjoyed their experience with to ‘meet and greet’ receiving excellent Warship Conservation. Horniman Museum and Gardens us. The results of the surveys Rosa has feedback from participants. A colleague, The Interaction Volunteers Team is involved Nigel Peace, Natural History Museum Yvette, commented that “Connie is always participated in have influenced all areas across 3 IWM London Branches. It began friendly, helpful and willing to lend a hand Rachel Bates, Old Royal Naval College of the running of the Tower of London as operations on HMS Belfast in 2010, well as having a wide reaching influence on with anything”. extended to the in Razia Iqbal, the rest of Historic Royal Palaces. The role The role was initially for 3 months but 2011 and was rolled out to the main IWM requires advanced skills in listening, reading Sarah Thistlewhaite, Connie was keen to continue to ‘get site following its First World War and writing English. Not only that but the Sir John Soane’s Museum done’. With Connie’s keen eye for detail Centenary in 2014. volunteer must establish a rapport with the and excellent organisational skills she has Sarah Wilkinson, visitor very quickly in order to persuade More than 250,000 visitors have now helped with website updates, developed Museum of the Order of St. John them to stop for long enough to complete benefitted from the friendly welcome and a comprehensive spreadsheet to check the whole questionnaire and still leave with object based explanations offered by team Sian Rees, Geffrye Museum everything is up to date and consistent a smile on their face. members afloat, underground and in the across the pages, re-organised the team’s Imperial War Museums heart of our new IWM London galleries. Tamsin Benson, resources and proof read reports and information. When Robert joined the team, he lacked confidence and self-esteem and found LONG SERVICE

WINNER: He has participated over the last 6 years in HIGHLY COMMENDED: the membership benefits to which they are With his extensive knowledge and Alan Marvin, the museum’s display and research stand Pat Tilly, London Transport entitled, nor be kept up to date with all that commitment he encourages volunteers, The Royal Artillery Museum at the annual Orders and Medals Research Museum is going on. staff and visitors to learn more about the Society Convention. Not only manning the life and work of William Morris by engaging The Royal Artillery Museum charts various stands on the day but spending London Transport Museum presents the Roger Huddle, William Morris them with introductory talks, training the 300 year history of the Royal the previous 6 months researching the ongoing story of public transport in London, Gallery sessions and running an exceptional with a focus on how that story is closely of Artillery and the 700 individual medals that would be on display, Waltham Forest Museum, Gallery and programme of events. linked to the development and economic year story of the development of Alan has been a regular participator at the Archive Service encompass two main sites, success of the capital city itself. RUNNERS-UP: guns and gunnery with both these Museum stand at the BBC “Who Do You the William Morris Gallery situated in Lloyd strands joined together by the Think You Are – Live” national genealogy The Museum is supported by an active Park and Vestry House Museum which Alison Walker, Vestry House Museum show and also at the Army Museums Ogilby Friends organisation whereby the Friends includes the Local Studies and personal stories of the Gunners Doug Parry, Museum of the Order of St. Trust (AMOT) “Memorabilia Checkpoint” Archive. themselves, told so easily and offer their time, knowledge and enthusiasm John where over the years he has imparted his as volunteers and fundraisers. comprehensively through the The William Morris Gallery is housed extensive knowledge about medals and Graeme Zeitlin, Imperial War Museums 12,000 medals the museum holds military genealogical research to thousands With a growing membership of over 2,500, in an 18th Century Georgian house in in its collection. of visitors. the London Transport Museum Friends and is the only public gallery Kate Pickering, Alan Marvin needs efficient administration. Handling devoted to the life and work of William Museum Alan has volunteered at the Royal Artillery His efforts far exceed those expected of a this workload requires considerable time, Morris. The Gallery conserves, researches Museum in two areas over the last 10 years. Roger Wright, Natural History Museum volunteer. This has been an outstanding dedication and meticulous attention and cares for the heritage and legacy of Alan is a gallery warden and tour guide on performance; the projects above are long- to detail which Pat has tirelessly and William Morris and aims to encourage the Ruth Lankester, Museum of London Fridays and a specialist medal curator on term, which without continuity and longevity generously given over a substantial period widest possible audience to engage with Mondays. Steve Smith, Horniman Museum and of one man’s service could not have been of time since 1999. his ideas and influence. Gardens Alan took on the role of specialist medal achieved by this or any other museum. His It is not a glamorous role in the public In 2012 the William Morris Gallery curator - starting by methodically working dedication, accuracy and cheerfulness Valerie Packer, Charles Dickens Museum front line but it is absolutely vital that it is underwent a £5 million redevelopment through all of the cabinets of medals, have always been present and his work is done competently and with discretion (as project which saw the main galleries photographing and logging each medal, always of the highest standard. members’ personal information, including redisplayed, combining treasures from cross referencing with the museum’s banking details, is involved). the collection with hands-on, interactive ADLIB records. He then undertook a exhibits as well as an exhibition programme housekeeping exercise, re-affixing all Pat, as the Membership secretary, featuring internationally renowned artists medals that had come, over time, loose (originally alone, but now supported by a and opportunities for local and emerging in their drawers and giving remedial small team) has performed this vital role artists. conservation where necessary. Once for 16 years and this award is our way of complete he then undertook a complete thanking and recognising her dedicated Roger is one of our longest serving visitor stock-take of all the thousands of medals commitment. Without Pat’s diligent volunteers and has made a really positive contained in the reserve collection creating processing of all the paperwork, emails, impact on services team. He has a database and a photographic record of telephone calls and web site applications, a long standing relationship with the gallery, every single medal held in the collection. the Friends as an organisation would not be having been a member of the Friends of able to keep track of its members, nor their the William Morris Gallery for many years, subscriptions (which fund all that we do); and remains a driving force within that and the individual Friends would not get organisation. SPECIAL YOUTH

WINNER: Taliha Gazi, William Taliha is a natural leader who uses her Her fellow Young said that Taliha is HIGHLY COMMENDED: support work at the museum alongside the RUNNERS-UP: skills and abilities for the benefit of others. a valued team member and singled her out Youth Panel which is testament to all that Morris Gallery Charly Pickard, Horniman RAF Museum She believes in the value of the and for bringing leadership to the discussions, she has learnt over her time with us and Burchell, The William Morris Gallery in Museum and Gardens widening access, especially amongst the being excellent at keeping everyone on task her incredible ongoing commitment to the Jack Daniel, The Royal Artillery Museum Walthamstow is owned and local community where she lives. Taliha and having creative problem-solving ideas. The Horniman Museum and Gardens is organisation. managed by the London Borough speaks passionately about getting young based in Forest Hill, south east London. Its Jack O’Riordan, We are delighted to celebrate her incredible of Waltham Forest. It is the only people in Waltham Forest involved in the incredible collection spans anthropology, London Transport Museum contribution over the last five years. She Young Curators Group and giving them a musical instruments, natural history, an public gallery devoted to the has shaped and, we hope, will continue to Joe Marshall, Historic Royal Palaces life and work of William Morris. voice within the organisation. aquarium, animal walk and over 16 acres of gardens. Alongside this sits an ambitious shape the work of the Horniman Museum Megan Parker, Following a major redevelopment Taliha has a mature, professional approach learning programme that engages and Gardens for years to come. Museum of the Order of St. John project in 2012 the Gallery has and has represented the Gallery with high thousands of schools, families, young Anna Campen, Bexley Heritage Shannon Riley, Jewish Museum welcomed more visitors than ever profile stakeholders and artists including people and community groups every year, Trust at & Gardens before; it was named Museum the Head of Cultural and Heritage Services supported by a dedicated team of over 120 of the Year in 2013 and has at the Council and liaised with dance volunteers. Bexley Heritage Trust manages Hall Place established a thriving volunteer organisation Khyal Arts to perform, a & Gardens, a stunning Tudor house with Charly has been a key member of the genuinely brilliant example of programming. magnificent gardens and Danson House, a programme for people from all Horniman Youth Panel from its beginning beautifully restored Georgian villa, both in walks of life. in 2010. She has remained a regular the outer London Borough of Bexley. The member throughout the years, helping the In 2014, Taliha was the first person to Trust also manages the Bexley Museum panel to change and evolve, supporting become a founding member of the Young Collection. Curators Group. In a short time she has new members, taking senior roles in made a significant contribution to the events, running Youth Panel sessions and Anna started at Hall Place on a formal work Gallery’s offer to young people and to advocating for young people and the Youth experience placement helping with events developing this new audience. Since this Panel internally and externally. and marketing and then opted to continue volunteering with the Trust during her free time she has had key roles in curating an Her dedication is extraordinary – she is periods on Wednesday afternoons for the exhibition, recruiting new members to the always there early, and stays late to make whole of the lower sixth, finishing the school Young Curators Group and organising sure everything is tidied up and secure. She year with another week of formal work events at the Museum; from a friends and is a great support to members with special experience with the museum collection. family event of young artists, to a poetry educational needs showing great sensitivity event and large public event exclusively for and maturity in helping the Youth Panel Over the past school year we have seen young people. to be inclusive, safe and supportive for Anna grow in confidence and believe in her everyone. She is hugely popular with staff, own abilities. She has displayed a maturity volunteers and visitors alike and always beyond her years and has been a pleasure brings with her a huge sense of fun and to work with. enthusiasm. We nominated Anna for recognition Charly is really vital to the Youth Panel, and that during a time when she was under to the wider museum. She has recently immense pressure from school with exams, started undertaking some paid events she still made a commitment to volunteer Clare Mulley (Poet) with Taliha at the Gallery’s poetry event with us in her free time. SUPPORTING, MANAGING AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS

WINNER: with new starters, she has developed Sarah’s hard work means that the SCC and HIGHLY COMMENDED: They provide great support and Along with the lab-based work, Kelly also Sarah Mahood, and provided an induction that ensures Museum have benefitted hugely from the Volunteer Team Leaders, reassurance to a team of volunteers who leads field trips to the New Forest where Horniman Museum volunteers and placement students input of volunteers, particularly with their RAF Museum have supported the museum for a long a team of up to 4 volunteers help collect understand how the SCC works, the help in carrying out the large amount of time, and continue to hold their trust. insects present in the leaf litter. During and Gardens risks to be found there, as well as how to follow-up work from our recent Collections The is Britain’s They make us stop and think about our these trips Kelly really shows her passion The Horniman Museum and handle, move and pack objects and use the People Stories Collections review. Her National Museum telling the story of the suggestions and ideas, in a manner that for the natural world along with excellent Gardens is based in Forest Hill, collections database. commitment to SCC volunteers ensures RAF through its people and collections. is constructive, respectful and thought time management skills as we have to that they can continue on successfully provoking. start quite early and wrap up before lunch. south east London. Its incredible Sarah keeps in regular contact with the The ambition of the Museum is to ensure to employment or further educational The trips are a wonderful way of learning collection spans anthropology, team supporting and providing extra that the Royal Air Force’s story endures and Change can be challenging for all, and they opportunities. about the natural habitat of the insects that musical instruments, natural assistance (as required) as well as enriches future generations. Our vision is to are showing great resilience, willingness we sort in the lab as well as a fun way of history, an aquarium, animal walk administering the repayment of volunteers’ be a world-leading museum that engages, and desire to work with the museum. They getting to know the broader volunteer team and over 16 acres of gardens. expenses and maintaining and allocating inspires and connects everyone with the support each other, and are very much a and Kelly. Alongside this sits an ambitious ongoing and potential tasks. She gives RAF story through exploration of its people team in their own right. learning programme that engages the volunteers help and advice, including and collections. Last but not least; having the opportunity Kelly Inward, thousands of schools, families, support in applying for jobs or their Our 5 Volunteer Team Leaders have to take part at Science Uncovered (a late Natural History Museum young people and community courses/studies. ensured that through a period of great night science festival at the NHM) last year groups every year, supported change, the volunteers’ voices have been The Natural History Museum first opened alongside Kelly as part of team was a real privilege. Kelly’s clear instructions made it by a dedicated team of over 120 heard and their activity has continued. The its doors to the public on Easter Monday easy for us as volunteers to handle queries volunteers. Volunteer Team Leaders are: Sylvia Briggs, in 1881, but its origins go back more Peter Nash, James Long, Nigel Simmons than 250 years. Volunteers have been posed by visitors. Sarah is the Collections Access Officer and and Ian Corfield. involved with the Museum since its very Kelly has shown the volunteer team is based at the Horniman’s store, the Study conception however the programme was In 2013, the Society of Friends they used to kindness and continuous support and Collections Centre (SCC). This is a busy job only formalised in the early 90’s. Today with be a part of was disbanded and a broader we wish to recognise how valuable her whose priority is the Horniman’s Object in over 80 million specimens we are home volunteering programme was implemented. input has been to many peoples’ passion Focus Loans project and providing general to the largest and most important natural Before, during and since this change, the for volunteering and in inspiring a lifelong assistance at the SCC. history collection in the world and privileged Team Leaders have provided consistent love of the natural world (most specifically to have the support of over 550 volunteers Since September 2013, Sarah has co- support to both the volunteers and the insects!). across the Museum. ordinated all volunteer and placement museum; sharing their knowledge, skills, RUNNERS-UP: activity at the SCC, for both Collections patience and enthusiasm for the museum, Kelly is a research assistant at the Museum Management and Documentation. Sarah its aim and work. They have maintained but she is also volunteer manager of a Andy Curran, took this on after a year when no-one the engagement of our 80 volunteers, team of Soil Biodiversity Group volunteers. HMS Belfast (Imperial War Museums) was able to dedicate the time required continued to coordinate their activities, Kelly has always been supportive and Charlie Forman, London Canal Museum to manage the SCC’s volunteers and ensuring our collection remains conserved encouraging to her volunteers helping them placements, despite the need becoming and accessible to our visitors. They have figure out how to differentiate between Laura Whitman, Churchill War Rooms very obvious. provided positive support to the museum’s different types of insects (by Order) and (Imperial War Museums) new Volunteer Manager, providing guidance sort them into separate tubes in an orderly Sarah has since updated the SCC guidance Maeve Underwood, on current practice and assisting them manner. She always demonstrates patience for volunteers to be consistent with the Imperial War Museums and passion when training her volunteers. main site. Taking a hands-on approach with getting to know the volunteers, their left to right: Ann Wallace with Sarah motivations and their needs. Vanessa Theed, Museum of London The LVMA Steering Group would like to thank the following individuals and organisations for their generous assistance and support of this year’s Awards (without whom this event would not have been possible)

Bexley Heritage Trust Museum of London

Courtauld Institute of Art

Florence Nightingale Museum Old Royal Naval College (with special thanks for hosting) RAF Museum Fulham Palace Fusilier Museum Royal College of Surgeons Geffrye Museum Royal Museums Greenwich Headstone Manor Science Museum Heath Robinson Museum Sir John Soane’s Museum Historic Royal Palaces SS Robin Trust Horniman Museum The Charles Dickens Museum Hunterian Museum The Jewish Museum Imperial War Museums The Museum of the Order of St. John Jayne Williams The Natural History Museum (with special Lauderdale House thanks to the Design Studio Team) London Museum Development West House London Transport Museum William Morris Gallery

The Judges

Clive Pankhurst (Trust Lead for Volunteer Services at UCLH)

Dea Birkett (Director, Kids in Museums)

Kate Bowgett (Director of Advocacy, Groundswell UK & Vice Chair of Volunteer Centre )

Michelle Martin (Chief Executive, Volunteer Centre Greenwich)

Richard Gough (Volunteer Coordinator, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust & Founding member of the Heritage Volunteering Group) LONDON VOLUNTEERS IN MUSEUMS AWARDS 2015 Sue Barnard (Relationship Manager, Museums, Arts Council )