Join the COAM Volunteer Team

An opportunity to join and support the award-winning Chiltern Open Air Museum, a cherished charity that warmly welcomes approximately 60,000 visitors annually. Our mission extends beyond the preservation of historical buildings and heritage skills; we strive to offer an engaging and educational environment for visitors. In our flexible and amicable work setting, you'll collaborate with a dedicated team of passionate staff and volunteers. As we continue to evolve, we're actively seeking new talent to contribute to our journey.

Become a Volunteer

By becoming a volunteer at Chiltern Open Air Museum you provide invaluable support that ensures we can open to visitors and continue with the amazing work we do. Our outdoor spaces, friendly team and 2,000 years of Chilterns history make this a really special place for you to get involved.

There are all-sorts of areas that you can support us in front of house, stewarding, office support, catering, collections care, estate work, gardening, building maintenance and more! All volunteers must be aged 18 and over.

To people in Victorian costume sitting and drinking tea in a cottage

Volunteer Re-enactment Groups

We welcome volunteer re-enactment groups to the site. Volunteer re-enactment groups benefit from being able to use our site for training purposes during our closed period. All groups must have their own insurances.

Five re-enactors in WW2 costumes

Current Volunteer Opportunities

We are particularly looking for volunteers who can support us in the following areas:

  • Farm and Site Volunteer
    We’re looking for volunteers to assist in the management of the outdoor environment at the Museum. This involves practical work like fencing, hedge laying, hay making and chopping firewood.

  • Visitor Engagement Volunteers
    We’re looking for costumed volunteers to chat to visitors and help bring our buildings to life. Training and costumes are provided.

  • Catering Volunteers
    We need volunteers to support our catering team either by serving customers, clearing tables or helping in our prep room.

  • Building Team Mechanic
    We are looking for experienced mechanic volunteers to help us with maintaining site vehicles (old and new) as well as mechanical tools and machinery.

  • Event Team Volunteers
    We need volunteers to help us prepare for and clear up after events, to act as marshals during events, to run and support activities, and to help create trails and props. We’re also looking for people to help run craft activities.

  • Estate Team Volunteers
    We are looking for volunteer livestock feeders and welfare checkers.

Volunteer helping create a wychert wall
Sewing Team volunteers pressing a shirt collar

Contact Us

To express an interest and find out more about volunteering with us, please return a completed COAM Volunteer Enquiry Form to our Volunteer Coordinator Laura on volunteering@coam.org.uk