In Touch Volunteer Programme
Project name: In Touch Volunteer Programme
Location: The Manchester Museum
Timing and duration:
(2007-2010)
In 2007 The Manchester Museum and Imperial War Museum North formed a partnership to launch the In Touch programme, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund for three years.
Project manager: Adele Finley
Target audience (type):
• people at risk of social, economic or cultural exclusion
• long term unemployed and returnees to work
• refugees and asylum seekers
• people with disabilities
• non-learners and people with low skill levels
• young adults (over 16) in danger of exclusion
• people with a mental health illness who are looking to take their next step and develop confidence and skills
• people dissuaded from visiting museums and galleries because of the real and perceived barriers they face
• those who have not previously volunteered
Participants (estimate number):
The programme helped over 180 individuals from a variety of backgrounds in Greater Manchester access heritage, re-engage with learning and develop key transferable skills for future employment.
Partnership working was key to the success and the sustainability of the project, opening up referral routes for participants. Main partners include The University of Manchester, Salford College, Jobcentre Plus, Manchester City Council, Refugee Action, Connexions, Voluntary Action, Mental Health agencies and local community groups.
Aim/objectives:
The specific aims of the programme were to:
• Engage people who are socially, culturally and economically excluded
• Diversify the museum volunteer workforce
• Offer accredited training opportunities
• Help individuals develop transferable skills towards future employability, education or voluntary work
• Increase the availability of collections by direct access
• Establish a national blueprint for museum volunteer training and community involvement which could be rolled out regionally and nationally to the heritage sector.
Description of process:
In Touch was an innovative volunteer and training programme developed and delivered by The Manchester Museum and Imperial War Museum North, in partnership with Salford City College. At the core of In Touch was a 10 week Cultural Heritage Course with embedded literacy skills and training in a variety of museum roles which provided a relevant, informal and enjoyable learning experience for participants. On completion of the programme individuals were
able to play an active volunteer role in the delivery of both museums’ visitor provision.
Impact and evaluation:
Cultural consultants Morris Hargreaves McIntyre carried out a range of quantitative and qualitative research to evaluate the programme against the original aims and in three specific areas: impact on the museums, impact on participants and the development of a transferable model. 79% of participants who completed the programme took part in research including baseline and outcome surveys, creative workshops, in-depth interviews and participant observation.
Evaluation of the programme concluded that training in non-traditional learning environments such as museums and galleries broadens people’s perspective and helps break down cycles of isolation, low skills and low aspiration. Evidence showed that In Touch contributed strongly to the personal development of volunteers, significantly increasing their self-confidence (+61%) and self-esteem (+49%), which for the development of inter-personal and employment skills. By the end of the training programme 81% felt positive about their lives.
For most participants, In Touch was a transformative experience, empowering individuals and helping them engage more deeply with heritage, learn how to work as a volunteer, improve self confidence and mental health, gain qualifications and increase skills for future employment. Crucially, the programme gave individuals the confidence and skills to take the next step, a total of 41% of volunteers have taken part in further learning on completion of the training and 18% of volunteers have moved on to employment.
Research also showed the programme created a significantly more diverse volunteer workforce in comparison to the more traditional profile of heritage volunteers. In Touch volunteers were significantly younger, more likely to be male, less highly educated, more likely to be unemployed rather than retired and there was a higher representation of people of BME origin or with a disability.
You can view the evaluation of the In Touch Volunteer Training Programme at
http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/community/volunteer/intouchvolunteer/
Lessons learned:
The implementation of a socially-inclusive volunteering programme such as In Touch does present challenges. The resources required to develop, deliver and sustain a programme like this are significant, particularly given the level and range of support needed by many socially excluded individuals, particularly those with more extreme or multiple needs.
Running a programme of this nature is time intensive and In Touch employed two full time staff (Volunteer Co-ordinator and Volunteer Assistant). It is important to support and spend time with individuals to enable them develop skills and confidence and foster a sense of belonging and ownership towards the Museum. However, it is essential to realise that there is a limit to the level of support staff can offer. Museum staff are not trained for example in areas such as mental health, illness, benefits or financial support. Instead, it is important to establish links with local specialist support agencies, where advice and guidance can be sought and individuals can be referred on to.
It was very important to have clear communication channels throughout the organisation when introducing In Touch. Consultation sessions with staff and existing volunteers at the beginning of the planning stages, raised awareness of the programme and increased understanding of the reasons to develop such a programme. Senior management ‘buy-in’ is also essential so that they can cascade the importance of such a programme down to all the staff members.
Possibly the biggest challenge that the programme has faced, and continues to face is funding. Although In Touch was supported by the Museum it was financially independent and extends beyond core activities. The Manchester Museum and Imperial Was Museum North received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop and deliver the programme and the resources required were significant. It is therefore necessary to seek and apply for external funding, this process can be lengthy and may become increasingly difficult in the current financial climate.
Legacy of the project:
In Touch has created a skilled and diverse volunteer workforce, which continues to play an active role in the delivery of important Museum services. It has had a significant effect on The Manchester Museum and Imperial War Museum North, increasing awareness of diversity and volunteering, influencing practice in both these areas and broadening audiences. Through the programme, both museums have made a greater and more meaningful connection with local communities.
In Touch has played an integral role in increasing the availability of collections by direct access which has had a lasting impact on staff, volunteers and visitor offer at The Manchester Museum and Imperial War Museum North. Through object handling volunteers engage members of the public with original objects and specimens from the Museum’s collection, telling stories about these objects and creating a dialogue with the visitor.
Since the introduction of In Touch in 2007, object handling has become more embedded within the Museums, there is a higher frequency of sessions and new objects and handling tables have been introduced. Ultimately this has increased the opportunity for visitors of all ages and backgrounds to fully engage with a variety of subjects and handle part of the Museum’s collection, which provokes conversation and learning.
"Hundreds, if not thousands of members of the public have had physical contact with objects, which they would otherwise have not had. The volunteers have been positive advocates for the museum to the outside world."
Curator of Palaeontology, The Manchester Museum
In Touch ended in 2010, the partnership between The Manchester Museum and Imperial War Museum North remains strong as we seek further funding to build on the success of In Touch. We hope future projects will enable us to continue our work with people of risk of social isolation and will create a network of placement partners from across Manchester, increasing opportunities for participants and allow us to share best practice and expertise with other heritage venues.
