We are a completely independent charity that is entirely run by volunteers. If you are interested in helping out in any capacity then please drop us a line via the website. Alternatively, feel free to drop in one weekend for a chat. All you need is enthusiasm and a bit of spare time!
Many hands make light work, as they say, so the more help we have, the easier it is for everyone, it doesn’t matter if you can only spare a bit of time each week.
Select a subject to find out more…
Café
Join our hardworking café team and help support a core part of the Heritage Centre. Volunteers are needed both front-of-house and in the kitchen, assisting with cooking, serving customers, operating the counter, and a variety of day-to-day tasks.
The café is the lifeblood of the Heritage Centre, generating vital income that helps fund our wider activities and preserve our heritage. It is also a valued community space with many regular visitors and customers.
We aim to keep our prices affordable for everyone, and our dedicated volunteers play an essential role in making that possible.
Museum
Join our friendly museum volunteer team and help bring local history to life for our visitors. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist with welcoming visitors, answering questions, helping care for our collection, supporting events, and sharing the stories of our heritage.
The museum is key to our educational mission, preserving and celebrating the rich industrial and social history of the area for future generations. It is a valued community resource enjoyed by families, schools, enthusiasts, and visitors from across the country.
Our volunteers are essential in helping us create a welcoming and engaging experience for everyone who visits. Whether you have a passion for history or simply want to support your local community, we would love to hear from you.
Schools
School visits are an important part of the Heritage Centre’s work, giving children the opportunity to explore local history, industry, and community heritage in a hands-on and interactive environment. These visits help bring the past to life and support learning outside the classroom.
Our volunteers play a vital role in ensuring school groups have a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience. Whether you enjoy working with young people, sharing history, or simply lending a helping hand, your support can make a real difference.
Mining
The coal mine is one of the Heritage Centre’s most important attractions, offering visitors the rare opportunity to experience the atmosphere and history of a real working mine. Maintaining the site and providing safe, engaging tours depends heavily on the time and skills of our volunteers.
Whether you have practical skills, an interest in engineering and mining history, or simply enjoy meeting and helping people, there are many ways to get involved. From guiding tours to assisting with repairs and upkeep, every volunteer contribution helps keep this important piece of North Staffordshire history alive for future generations.
Gardening Therapy Group
What’s the idea?
The aim is for people who have been ill to enjoy some gentle outdoor activity to aid recovery, and also give them a chance to socialise.
Who are we?
We are a small group of Heritage Centre volunteers who look after various patches of ground around the Heritage Centre.W ith the work we do we try to keep a balance between people, horticulture, wildlife and mining heritage displays, which is not always easy!
Is it just gardening?
Mostly gardening, but we do some crafts as well. We grow produce to be used in the café, and we turn some of what we grow into jam and chutney for sale. We also make garden furniture such as bird tables to raise funds for the Heritage Centre. We cut the grass in front of the museum and in the children’s meadow opposite, and try to keep the flowerbeds flowering outside the café. We also want to encourage the wildflowers which benefit the bees and butterflies, and we maintain the small ponds and the willow arches.
How long have you been going?
About twenty years. The polytunnel garden, which is sited above the visitors’ mine, was originally set up as an occupational therapy project by social services. We try to continue the therapeutic aspect by providing friendly support for our volunteers whatever their capabilities.
Can anyone join in?
We welcome new members, you do not have to be a gardener. If you would like to come and see what we do we are always happy to talk to visitors and show you around.
General
There are multiple other ways in which you can help whatever skills you have whether they be practical or administrtive.
Behind every successful visit to the Heritage Centre is a team of dedicated volunteers helping things run smoothly. From greeting visitors to all the general tasks that make an organisation function, these roles are essential to keeping the Centre welcoming, organised, and accessible to the community.
Whether you enjoy meeting people, working behind the scenes, or developing new skills, there are many ways to get involved. Every volunteer makes a valuable contribution to helping preserve and share our local heritage.
Note: Safety is very important to when dealing with schools and the public so we do perform an DBS check on all volunteers.