Heritage Centre & Family Researcher

Keywords

Archiving Events Heritage History Research Socialising Visitor Experience

Description

Our Elvington and Eythorne Heritage Group and Heritage Centre are looking for a keen new volunteer that may have some experience and knowledge, or be prepared to learn, to be involved with helping both our existing volunteer members and also visitors alike, to be involved with family research, too.

We are looking for a keen volunteer to help with providing information and assistance to both our existing volunteers and visitors, and also to be involved with any of the local events that we participate in, including, but not limited to, an annual heritage event held at Elvington Community Centre and the annual Kent Miner’s Festival, held at Betteshanger Park.

What rewards come with volunteering, and how does it create meaningful change?

Our small heritage centre is situated in the former mining community of Elvington, just a few a miles from both Deal, Dover and Canterbury in the county of Kent. Our heritage group was formed back in 2011 and our heritage centre has been based in Elvington Community Centre since 2013. We have lots of displays and exhibits that explain and show the history of the local area together with the ancient parishes of Waldershare and Eythorne, along with the mining community of Elvington, which provided housing for the miners and their families at the nearby Tilmanstone Colliery. The colliery closed in 1986, but we are determined to explain both the industrial and community heritage of the area.

We are currently trying to put names to faces on a hundred thousand images and photographs. We have many visitors from across the country, who come to try and discover more about their ancestors, but also share information about they already know with us. 

Requirements

Previous experience and knowledge in the use of a computer, along with any previous experience with volunteering and assisting people with family research id desirable, but not essential. Help and assistance can be given by our group members, who will explain the purpose of what is to be achieved from anyone who is interested in the volunteering role at our heritage centre.