Join our thriving and enthusiastic community of volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to develop your skills while supporting the Visitor Centre. Thank you so much for taking the time to look at our volunteering page!

Volunteers are at the heart of our award-winning Centre. Whether you are volunteering to keep busy, learn new skills or to meet new people West Bay Discovery Centre is a great place to be. Our fantastic team of over 40 volunteers share their knowledge and enthusiasm with our visitors.

Most of our volunteers work as Stewards but we have a range of roles to suit many different interests and skill-sets and would love to hear from you. Join us to discover, develop and share your skills, talent and connections. Our Stewards welcome visitors, provide local information and look after our small retail area. No experience is required as full training is given. The steward shifts are two and a half hours in length (11am-1:30pm or 1:30-4pm.)

West Bay Discovery Centre was very excited to announce that they have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.   The  Award recognises the work of voluntary groups that do things differently, consistently and outstandingly well.  West Bay Discovery Centre was one of only two organisations in Dorset to receive the award on 14th November 2024.

View our volunteer video or read more about our volunteer roles below.

To apply

– Get in touch by phone or email and we can have a chat about how you can get involved.

– Or to get a head start fill in our volunteer application form

Email: manager@westbaydiscovery.org.uk

Phone: 01308 427288

Discovery Centre Volunteer roles

Steward Stewards are the face of our Centre; welcoming visitors, providing local information and looking after our small shop.

Researchers Researchers help us tell the story of West Bay by providing us with information we can use in our displays, exhibitions, activities, and online media. Research topics include almost anything to do with West Bay and the Jurassic Coast- from local history to wildlife or wherever your interest lies.

Events and Activities We offer lots of different events and activities for kids and adults which we need help with running. There are many ways you can help- such as running guided walks on various topics, giving talks, or helping us with school groups and education outreach.

Marketing Do you have a creative flair or are handy with a computer? We need your help! Anything from designing posters and creating social media posts to keeping our website up to date- we need your help attracting visitors to the Discovery Centre.

Building Maintenance Set in the Chapel on the Beach your help is invaluable to us in not just in creating a beautiful place to visit but also in helping us look after this historical West Bay building. If you are handy with anything from painting and DIY to cleaning and weeding please do get in touch.

From 1st October 2024, all our volunteers will automatically become members of The Friends of West Bay Discovery Centre Charity (charity number 1209623). The charity aims to raise funds to put on exhibitions at the Centre, support additional free activities, carry out historical research and provide changing displays and stories about West Bay Heritage.