Volunteer Opportunities
We have an exciting mix of volunteering opportunities with Roundhouse Birmingham.
Whether you’re a lover of the outdoors, enjoy talking to people or
have an interest in heritage, there’s a role here for you.
After running a series of volunteer Open Days during March 2023, we have now closed volunteers applications and recruitment is currently on hold for 2023.
You can, however, still register your interest below and we’ll be in touch when active recruitment starts up again. This is likely to be towards the end of the summer for Visitor Engagement Volunteers, and in early 2024 for Kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboard Support Volunteers.
To start your volunteering journey with us you’ll need to attend an Open Day. We do both in-person and online sessions. You’ll learn more about the roles, and if you like what you see and hear, we’ll talk through next steps and book you into training slots. We’re holding Open Day sessions on 4, 7, 11 & 15 March 2023. Sign up to an in-person or online session below.
Visitor Engagement Volunteer
Visitor Engagement Volunteers play a vital part in providing a welcoming and very Birmingham introduction to the Roundhouse. The role offers a chance to get stuck into different parts of our programme, whether it’s leading new drop-in tours, helping with workshops and onsite events, helping us get to know visitors a little more, or even accompanying heritage boat trips. The role is very flexible and allows volunteers to follow their interests, or to try a bit of everything. No previous experience is required, and we will provide all the training and resources you need. Just come along with an inquisitive mindset and an interest in learning something new.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Can commit to a one-day training session initially, and aim for two four-hour shifts or two events per month.
- Enjoys meeting and talking to new people.
- Is enthusiastic, positive, friendly and approachable.
- Wants to learn more about Birmingham’s past, present and future and share this with others.
- Has an interest in facilitating events and workshops.
- Is flexible and keen to get stuck-in.
The role:
- So, what is the Roundhouse then? You’ll help to answer that question by offering fun, drop-in introductory tours, lasting no more than 40 minutes to let people know .
- Welcoming visitors to site and making sure they get the information they need.
- Helping at ad hoc events on site and with our partners. For example, during Birmingham Heritage Week in September, we run lots of one-off events on site as a way of drawing in a different audience.
- Helping to introduce some of our tours and boat trips, including assistance with tour headsets.
- Supporting the day-to-day running of the Roundhouse site.
The detail stuff:
- Based mainly in our Visitor Centre and around the Roundhouse, but there will also be opportunities to go further afield. For example, going along to local community days or helping with partner tours such as the Canal and River Trust Heritage Boat Trip.
- Regular shifts based in the Visitor Centre, Thursday – Sunday, 11am – 3pm.
- Occasionally there will be opportunities to volunteer on other days when it’s particularly busy.
Volunteer Kayak Tour Support
Do you crave adventure and love the great outdoors? As a Kayak Tour Support Volunteer, you will love demonstrating your passion for the great outdoors with our visitors and enjoy sharing your knowledge for Brum’s beautiful places through our tours.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Enjoys meeting and talking to new people.
- Can commit to attending four training days and aim for at least two shifts per month.
- Is enthusiastic about the great outdoors, and isn’t afraid of the water!
- Enjoys physical activity and helping others to be active.
- Is enthusiastic, positive, friendly and approachable.
- Wants to learn more about Birmingham’s past, present and future and share this with others.
The role:
- Working with the Kayak Lead to set-up for the tour.
- Welcoming visitors, checking them in and setting them up with equipment.
- Supporting the Kayak Lead in delivering the tour – from getting attendees onto the water, ensuring their safety around the waterways, to making sure they get back onto dry land at the end!
- Opportunities to lead the tour yourself (training provided)
The detail stuff:
- Starting from the Roundhouse as a base, exploring the city by water in our kayaks.
- All equipment needed will be provided.
- Regular shifts Wednesday’s, Friday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s.
- Occasionally there will be opportunities to volunteer on other days, when it’s particularly busy or for private bookings.
- Shifts are around 4 hours in length.
Volunteer SUP Tour Support
Do you crave adventure and love the great outdoors? As a Stand Up Paddleboard Tour Support Volunteer, you will love demonstrating your passion for the great outdoors with our visitors and enjoy sharing your knowledge for Brum’s beautiful places through our tours.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Enjoys meeting and talking to new people.
- Can commit to attending four training days and aim for at least two shifts per month.
- Is enthusiastic about the great outdoors, and isn’t afraid of the water!
- Enjoys physical activity and helping others to be active.
- Is enthusiastic, positive, friendly and approachable.
- Wants to learn more about Birmingham’s past, present and future and share this with others.
The role:
- Working with the SUP Lead to set-up for the tour.
- Welcoming visitors, checking them in and setting them up with equipment.
- Supporting the SUP Lead in delivering the tour – from getting attendees onto the water, ensuring their safety around the waterways, to making sure they get back onto dry land at the end!
- Opportunities to lead the tour yourself (training provided)
The detail stuff:
- Starting from the Roundhouse as a base, exploring the city by water on our paddleboards.
- All equipment needed will be provided.
- Regular shifts Saturday’s and Sunday’s.
- Occasionally there will be opportunities to volunteer on other days, when it’s particularly busy or for private bookings.
- Shifts are around 4 hours in length.
Photographer
Grab a camera and help us show the world the exciting things that take place at Roundhouse Birmingham. You will make sure all our special moments are caught on camera including our events, outdoor activities, guided tours and even just the interesting day-to-day life in and around the building. Adding your own creative spin, we are keen on working with volunteers bursting with bold and imaginative ideas. Roundhouse Birmingham can provide a camera for you to use.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Has an interest in city life and is keen to promote work going on at the Roundhouse.
- Is a keen photographer – some knowledge of using a camera, having a good eye for a shot and is eager to develop their skills.
- Can follow a brief and enjoys working with other people.
- Would be available for projects about once a month.
- Is able to capture people’s permission for GDPR requirements.
Digital and Social Media Support
Want to improve our online presence? Love organising things? Excited to tell everyone about who we are and what we do? Our Digital and Social Media Supporters will assist in a variety of tasks, from keeping our followers and visitors in the loop, to helping us organise our digital library of assets and research. In this role, you could find yourself creating exciting content to share on our website and all over our social media platforms, or you could even focus on making promotional content in the form of engaging graphics and videos. The work you do will have a long-lasting impact and will also help us build anticipation and excitement for our events and activities. What you choose to specialise in is up to you, just come with an open mind and a willingness to learn!
We’re looking for someone who:
- Enjoys social media and has some knowledge of using it, which they want to develop.
- Has an interest in administrative tasks and organisation.
- Likes to take and edit videos.
- Enjoys engaging with a wide variety of people.
- Enjoys writing stories and is good at communicating online.
- Can follow a brief and enjoys working with other people.
- Is creative in their thinking and ideas.
- Has an interest in city life and is keen to promote work going on at Roundhouse Birmingham.
City Heritage Tour Guide
Are you naturally curious, creative and interested in showing off the hidden history at and around Roundhouse Birmingham? Whether through the historic building itself, the winding streets of Birmingham or along our beautiful canals, come and deliver some fresh and exciting tours with us.
Innovation is at the heart of all our tours; we want visitors to ‘See the City Differently’, so as you grow as a guide, we will encourage you to develop your own tours, creating unique, engaging and authentic story-telling experiences for audiences.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Can commit to a two-day training session and a minimum of two tour days a month; a usual tour day would consist of delivering one or two 90-minute tours.
- Is friendly, approachable and open-minded.
- Be an engaging tour guide, leading up to 15 people on each tour at and around the Roundhouse.
- Have an interest in Birmingham and an eagerness to share stories about the city.
- Be reliable and confident in delivering a host of tours to the public.
Do you crave adventure and love the great outdoors? As an Active Outdoors volunteer, you will have a true passion for delivering great active experiences. You will be instrumental in supporting the Active Outdoors team which will include delivering fun kayaking and cycling tours around the cityscape, helping as many people as possible engage with the outdoors and enjoy our beautiful places.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Can commit to delivering a minimum of six sessions in exchange for a qualification.
- Can commit to attending the training; seven days for kayaking and two to three days for cycling/running.
- Is enthusiastic about the great outdoors.
- Enjoys physical activity and helping others to be active.
- Is positive, friendly and approachable.
- Wants to learn more about Birmingham’s canals.
Being a volunteer also offers:
- Meeting like-minded people and making friends.
- Regular volunteer socials.
- Full training provided, boosting your confidence in leading groups and in public speaking.
- Research and training resources that will give you all the Brummie know-how you’ll need for your tour.
- Travel expenses reimbursed.
- 20% discount in the Roundhouse gift shop.
- Discounts at nearby pub (The Distillery).
This will take you to our volunteer registration and scheduling system, Beeple.
Volunteering FAQs
Most frequent questions and answers
We have a variety of volunteering opportunities available at Roundhouse Birmingham. More information on the type of roles available can be found on our role profile page.
For most of our volunteer roles we don’t require people with any specific skills or experience. We’re looking for people with an enthusiasm to get involved and a willingness to learn about Roundhouse Birmingham.
Yes, all roles require an element of training. You can find more information on our role profile page.
Our volunteering roles are flexible, so you’ll be able to work around a schedule that suits you. Most roles are ongoing, but some are short term and others might need a longer commitment. More info can be found on our role profile page.
Roundhouse Birmingham is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes all applications for volunteer roles. Please get in touch with us so we can discuss your individual needs get in touch.
Our volunteering opportunities are open to people aged 18 and over. If you are between 16 and 18, please get in touch directly with us as there may be opportunities available.
As a new charity, we’re still finding our feet. We hope to be able to offer school work experience placements in the future – watch this space!
Yes, we pay for travel expenses for volunteers to and from Roundhouse Birmingham, however, this is dependent upon your location. For more information please visit our role profile page.
Roundhouse Birmingham is committed to equal opportunities and having a criminal record will not exclude you from volunteering. For more information please get in touch.
