Volunteering at Cromford

Cromford Mills is having a great year with the Visitor Centre @ Building 17 turning 3 years old in 2019 and we are continuing to grow! We are always on the lookout for new people to join our team of great volunteers and help us to continue the work we are doing here.

The Visitor Centre @ Building 17 acts as the Northern gateway to the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and engages visitors in a variety of ways, providing opportunities to discover more about the history of this remarkable valley that changed the world, and signposting visitors to key locations within Cromford and the wider World Heritage Site. It includes an exhibition area and a fantastic cinematic show inside the world’s first successful water powered cotton spinning mill built by Sir Richard Arkwright in 1771, where you can meet the man himself.

Visitor Centre Hosts will share their enthusiasm and knowledge of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and help visitors to get the most out of their time here. As well as the Visitor Centre we have a wide range of volunteer opportunities at Cromford Mills throughout the year.

With roles in Education and Events, we have lots of family based learning and a jam packed annual programme of events that all need valuable volunteer support.

Tour Guides and Costumed Interpreters help bring the mill to life by delivering tours every day to our visitors and telling stories about the industrial revolution and this remarkable period of history. Whatever the role, you will be inspiring people to visit, learn and engage in the history of this amazing industrial valley. All volunteers are given full training so that you can share your knowledge of the Derwent Valley Mills and perform a range of activities while also meeting new people with a shared interest.

If you would prefer to get involved behind the scenes, we have a variety of conservation and administration roles to look after our wider estate and support our business activities. These include the Lumsdale Valley, Dunsley Meadows and Slinter Ponds. The full list of the volunteer opportunities available is on the website www.cromfordmills.org.uk/volunteer.

There is a whole host of training, workshops and social events that take place throughout the year, so you can engage with the history of the site and meet with fellow volunteers, and really make the most of your time here.

The Arkwright Society, who own and manage Cromford Mills, simply couldn’t survive without the work of volunteers, so why not join this dynamic and enthusiastic team.

If you are interested in any of the volunteer roles at Cromford Mills, or would simply like to hear more, please get in touch with Laura Rice, Visitor Experience Coordinator, via email on volunteering@arkwrightsociety.org.uk