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Our Volunteering Activities

Find out more about the exciting activities our volunteers get involved in, past and present, and why they choose to gift their time and skills to help preserve our heritage and enhance our library services.

Feeling inspired? View our volunteering opportunities here         Check out our latest Volunteer Newsletter here

 

Volunteer stood in a library holding some books and looking at the camera.

Home Library Service

Home Library Service - supporting people to continue their love of reading from their home. Our Home Library Service volunteers deliver books to people in their homes who are unable to get into their local library. We have over 90 volunteers who dedicate their time, energy and skills to support and help us keep the Home Library Service alive!

Find out more about 'Home Library Service'

Melton Carnegie Museum Young Volunteers

Our relationship with Long Field Spencer Academy has gone from strength to strength since their involvement at a Community Engagement event at Melton Carnegie Museum back in October 2022. In...

Find out more about 'Melton Carnegie Museum Young Volunteers'

Volunteers Support Local History Research

You may know the Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteers from their wonderful exhibitions and publications that they research and create.  One example is their Portraits, Pastimes and Parades from the...

Find out more about 'Volunteers Support Local History Research'

A 1620s House and Gardens Volunteer Poem

One of the 1620s House and Gardens volunteers has written a poem about her volunteering experience!

Find out more about 'A 1620s House and Gardens Volunteer Poem'

Winner of Leicestershire Award

Leicestershire Shared Reading (LSR), in partnership with Leicestershire County Council’s Library Service, supports a thriving network of ‘Make Friends, with a Book’ Shared Reading groups. Since their launch in 2016,...

Find out more about 'Winner of Leicestershire Award'

Melton Secondary School Students Volunteer at Museum Open Day

On the 27th of October, Melton Carnegie Museum opened its doors to over 150 visitors for a day of creativity, culture and cake! Six fantastic students volunteered to help support the day and ensure activities ran smoothly.

Find out more about 'Melton Secondary School Students Volunteer at Museum Open Day'

Market 800 – Celebrating the 800th anniversary of Loughborough Market and Fair

Market 800 was a partnership project between Leicestershire County Council, Charnwood Borough Council, and Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteers. It explored the market and fair through the ages – capturing...

Find out more about 'Market 800 – Celebrating the 800th anniversary of Loughborough Market and Fair'
Four adults sat talking at a table. They each have a book in front of them.

My experience as a Reader Leader Volunteer – by Helena Abbey

If you’re looking for a new volunteering opportunity, then look no further! Leicestershire Shared Reading in partnership with Leicestershire County Council are looking for volunteers to support and lead Shared...

Find out more about 'My experience as a Reader Leader Volunteer – by Helena Abbey'
Information board that reads: our new wildlife pond started February 2020. hello, the team of garden volunteers is working to create a wildlife pond. first we have to dig it out in a shape that allows creatures to get in and out. next we have to install a waterproof lining. then we fill it with water! finally we will put plants in and around the pond. we are following good advice in a book on ponds.

Wildlife Pond at 1620 Manor House

As winter approaches and another season at the 1620 Manor House comes to an end, the newly created wildlife pond is complete, and we are all looking forward to seeing what new residents it will bring in Spring 2022.

Find out more about 'Wildlife Pond at 1620 Manor House'
Group sat around a library table with coffee and biscuits. They are reading printed pages with text on them.

Get involved with Shared Reading!

Leicestershire Shared Reading (LSR), in partnership with Leicestershire County Council, supports a thriving network of ‘Make Friends, with a Book’ Shared Reading groups. These groups bring people together through great...

Find out more about 'Get involved with Shared Reading!'
A group of volunteers and participation team members standing on a stage. one volunteer is holding a certificate.

Volunteers Win Regional Award!

At 9.00am on 1st November 2021 a small group of volunteers and Participation Team staff stepped onto a minibus headed to the British Museum in London to take part in a celebration event. Little did they know they would be returning home as winners of the East Midlands Regional Marsh Trust Award for Volunteers in Museum Learning.

Find out more about 'Volunteers Win Regional Award!'
Two women in a record room with bookshelves and filing cabinets.

Research Volunteers are back at Melton Carnegie Museum!

After a break due to covid, we are happy to announce that this month we reintroduced the Research Volunteers group at Melton Carnegie Museum. Following a successful recruitment, we are also happy to welcome five new volunteers to the team!

Find out more about 'Research Volunteers are back at Melton Carnegie Museum!'

Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer Group

If you want advice on local history and genealogy, then you won’t find more knowledgeable and enthusiastic people than the Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer Group (LLLSVG)!

Find out more about 'Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer Group'

Leicestershire County Council Collections Team Volunteers!

Leicestershire County Council’s Museum Collections reflect the natural life of the County as well as the histories, interests and aspirations of the people who have made it their home. The Collections team works with various groups of volunteers who enable us to make our collections more accessible.

Find out more about 'Leicestershire County Council Collections Team Volunteers!'
Five volunteers stood outside the house. some are in period costumes.

Bringing the 1620s House and Garden to life!

The 1620s Manor House and Garden at Donington Le Heath have a team of over thirty dedicated volunteers who help bring the site to life. House Interpreters help visitors explore the house, providing information about its history and artefacts, whilst the Garden Volunteers develop and maintain the unique gardens.

Find out more about 'Bringing the 1620s House and Garden to life!'
Two men and two women stood outside in the garden

Growing the Museum

Growing the Museum is a volunteer-led, community project at Melton Carnegie Museum, which was initiated to grow heritage fruits and vegetables in the grounds of the museum.

Find out more about 'Growing the Museum'
3 elderly people sat at a table. One man is reading a piece of paper.

Discovering great literature through Shared Reading

Shared Reading groups bring people together through great literature to talk, laugh and share. Each week, the Volunteer Reader Leader brings a story or poem to read aloud, and throughout the session the group pauses to reflect & share their thoughts and connections to the literature.

Find out more about 'Discovering great literature through Shared Reading'

Our Commitment Towards Recognition

It’s important to us that volunteers feel recognised for the time, energy and skills they dedicate to our services and the local community. We like to do this is lots of different ways, from a simple thank you, to nominating volunteers for awards, and holding celebration events.

Find out more about 'Our Commitment Towards Recognition'

Volunteering at the Record Office

The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland exists to preserve and provide access to a wide range of resources which can be used to research the history and culture of our locality and its place within the world. The extensive collections, dating from the Domesday Book to yesterday, include archives, books, newspapers, maps, photographs, videos and sound recordings.

Find out more about 'Volunteering at the Record Office'
Collage with pictures of people in the phone and old images of families and houses

Exploring Family History by Phone

About the Project When the third lockdown began in January 2021 the Participation Team immediately started looking for ways that we could support local people who were at an increased...

Find out more about 'Exploring Family History by Phone'