Volunteer Experience Day & Evening

Interested in steam, industrial heritage, narrow gauge railways or the history of the Somerset Levels? Do you have a few spare hours or days to help run one of the largest collections of stationary steam engines and pumps in the country!? Perhaps you would like to become a loco driver on the narrow gauge railway, run the collection of stationary steam engines, help fire the boiler or maintain the collection? You might like to have a building restoration project, help out in the tea room or gift shop or just help keep the site clean and tidy? Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum would like your help!

Taking place on Wednesday the 10th of October we are running our Volunteer Experience Day/Evening. This event will give you the opportunity to spend time with our existing volunteers and get to see every aspect of running this steam museum. You will also get the opportunity to be hands on and operate some of the equipment (under supervision) and get a taste of the varying roles and skills that you can gain whilst being a volunteer. You will experience our small, friendly atmosphere that makes the Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum so special.

Please turn up at any time during the event, we look forward to welcoming you!

The itinerary for the day/evening is as follows:

[10am - 5pm]

Get involved in all aspects of behind the scenes work at the museum including engineering maintenance, boiler maintenance, building maintenance, landscaping, project work and restorations. There is also the front of house elements including the cafe, entrance and gift shop. You can talk to trustees and understand some of the administration roles within the organisation. Volunteers will be on hand to discuss the varying work that they carry out and let you get involved with those tasks.

If railways are your interest, we will be operating this and under supervision allowing you to have a go. We have a 2ft gauge passenger line, two diesel locomotives and petrol loco. There is always plenty of work to do on the track and you can see the tools and methods we use at the museum to do this.

[5pm - Late]

The museum will be In-Steam and you will be able to see and be involved with the preparation that goes in to get our boiler up to pressure, you will also (under supervision) be able to run up some of our collection of stationary steam engines, start the large 31 litre Crossley diesel engine and other exhibits around the museum.

We will be having a BBQ at around 7pm where you will be able to chat to the other volunteers with food and drink and enjoy the beautiful Somerset Levels scenery around you!

[In order to participate you will be asked to fill out a simple volunteer questionnaire on arrival with contact details which will be your sign in so we know you are onsite and can contact someone in an emergency. If you would like to be hands on then you must bring appropriate safety clothing including steel toe cap boots/shoes, trousers or boiler suit. All other items of PPE equipment would be provided if required.]