Description

We seek archive research volunteers to help us uncover untold Union Chain Bridge stories.
The research results will be made available to the public in exhibitions, the Union Chain Bridge website and educational resources.

Archive volunteers will carry out research using documents held at Berwick Record Office, Paxton House, and the National Records of Scotland. Using digital copies at home, or real copies held in the archives, volunteers will read, transcribe and interpret the contents of the documents.

Once the original archive and online resources have been consulted, we will ask volunteers to extract and analyse information from their contents and collate information on specific themes. This information will contribute to educational and public exhibition materials, as well as forming a legacy archive for the project on the history of the Chain Bridge and the neighbouring communities in Scotland and England.

For further information about the project generally please see www.unionchainbridge.org

Organisation aims and objectives

Union Chain Bridge: Crossing Borders, Inspiring Communities is an ambitious project involving the conservation of the historic Union Chain Bridge, and an extensive programme of public engagement. The project is a partnership between Northumberland County Council, Scottish Borders Council, Museums Northumberland and the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge. In this partnership, Museums Northumberland is responsible for the Volunteer Programme and the delivery of all heritage learning and engagement activities on both sides of the border. Through everything we do, we strive to inspire people to engage and connect with local culture and heritage through a set of core values. We strive to be: Generous - we are receptive, friendly and enabling; Strategic - we are focused on our long-term objectives and how to achieve them; Innovative - we are creative and thrive on ambitious projects and good ideas, and Collaborative - we are inspired by partnership working and strive for co-delivery and co-authorship.

Availability

As and when required. To a large extent you will be able to manage your own work schedule with guidance from the project team.

Restrictions

Experience required: No prior experience is necessary, as all training will be provided. Volunteers will need: an interest in history and heritage; an interest in working with archive material; the ability to work on their own and in a team and to attend appropriate training such as equality & diversity, archive research or palaeography to develop their skills.
Travel details: This activity will be flexible in that volunteers will also be able to take part from home remotely but will be expected to keep in regular contact with the co-ordinators. Volunteers will be assisted in accessing archive material at Berwick Record Office, Paxton House and the National Records of Scotland, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
Minimum age: 18

Support

Expenses paid: Yes
Expenses details: We commit to reimbursing volunteers for actual and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred, such as for travel, in line with our volunteer policy to ensure that opportunities are accessible and inclusive. There is fuller detail in the MN volunteer policy, discussion of which is a key part of the induction process.
Training details: The archival research will be kick-started with valuable training from an internationally respected heritage and archaeology organisation and anyone who volunteers to be involved will be supported by the UCB project team throughout. Other training may be provided during the project life-span where formative techniques suggest the need.
Support: Named Contact For Volunteer