Our volunteers are magic
Volunteering is at the heart of everything we do.
Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and age groups, each bringing something different to the team.
We have volunteering opportunities in every part of our operation from gardeners to guides, from admission to administration, from learning to leading, we can find a role that will suit any skills, experience or enthusiasms you may have.
Ripon Museum Trust
The Trust is run by a small team of staff with the support of our amazing volunteers. Together we keep the three unique heritage buildings and their collections running 7 days a week whilst providing fantastic visitor experiences.
Meet our Board of Trustees
The board meet formally six times a year to provide governance and leadership for the organisation. They are very hands on and most also volunteer as receptionists, guides, educational leads and gardeners.
Robert Ling - Chair of Trustees
Robert works as the Director of Resources and Organisational Change at Central Bedfordshire Council.
Prior to this role, Robert was Assistant Director for Technology and Change at North Yorkshire County Council where he led the transformation function across the council, responsible for Digital, Data and Technology, Projects, and Customer Services.
He previously worked for Local Partnership as a Project Director specialising in Digital Exploitation, UK Government in the delivery of the national broadband programme.
Earlier in his career, Robert worked at Yorkshire Forward – the regional development agency, focusing on programmes increasing business performance through Supply Chain Development, ICT Exploitation, and Sustainable Development.
Outside of work, Robert – who is a resident of Harrogate – has been a regular visitor to the museums with his young girls, as well as enjoying the benefits of the North Yorkshire countryside. In the thin slivers of personal time, Robert enjoys watching and playing football and video games.
Richard Taylor
Richard enjoys pursuing his interest in the heritage sector having worked professionally in historic environment management for over 30 years. Most recently he was the Conservation Team Leader at Leeds City Council.
As a chartered town planner specialising in built environment conservation, he previously had experience of regeneration as the Ripon Project Officer for the former national charity, the Civic Trust.
Since taking early retirement in 2010, Richard continues active involvement in local affairs as Co-Chair of Ripon Civic Society, helping to devise and promote the Ripon Neighbourhood Plan. He also serves as a director of the Ripon BID ensuring the museums’ interests are heard. He believes passionately in partnership working to deliver real benefits to the museums and the city.
In the brief spare time left over, he enjoys singing in Ripon Choral Society, exploring his native Yorkshire and beyond and admits to an addiction to cryptic crosswords and Radio 4.
Mandy Whitehead
Mandy held a variety of senior leadership and management roles in Local Authority Children’s Services over 20 years developing and delivering projects, services and policies to improve the life chances of children and young people.
In addition, Mandy worked in a strategic service development role to integrate services for families with young children with health partners in community settings across the Authority to increase opportunities, reduce inequalities and give children and young people the best start in life.
Brought up in Ripon, Mandy attended Ripon Cathedral Primary School and Ripon Grammar School and she has lived here for most of her adult life.
Mandy has a long-standing interest in community development and heritage in Ripon and for five years was the community development manager for the city.
Currently involved with a variety of organisations and partnerships in the city in addition to RMT. Mandy has a strong interest in improving the city’s cultural offer, its heritage and environment.
Mandy enjoys walking in the outdoors. She loves gardening and as well as helping in the Workhouse Garden, she really enjoys her allotment.
David Thelwall
David’s early experience was with Unilever and Ranks Hovis McDougall in general management, marketing and strategic planning.
He has had his own Management Consultancy business for some 30 years, specialising in marketing and strategy, in the agribusiness, food and bioscience sectors.
David’s early experience was with Unilever and Ranks Hovis McDougall in general management, marketing and strategic planning. He has had his own Management Consultancy business for some 30 years, specialising in marketing and strategy, in the agribusiness, food and bioscience sectors.
Professor Martin Webber
Martin is Professor of Social Work at the University of York and is Director of the International Centre for Mental Health Social Research.
His primary research interest is in the development and evaluation of social interventions with people with mental health problems.
Martin’s expertise regarding wellbeing, social capital and inclusion and how our museums can be used as an asset in this area are extremely beneficial in a museum such as ours. Furthermore, he widens our strategic perspective substantially. Finally, his research discipline is very valuable in evaluating and assessing projects on sustainability, capacity building, volunteer development and the like.
Amy Stow
Amy currently works as the Head of Operations at Shift.ms, a digital charity that provides peer support to young people with Multiple Sclerosis. She has worked in the third sector for 16 years, with 8 of those in the heritage and museums sector.
Amy’s particular skill set is in volunteer management / community engagement, strategy, income generation and human resources. Amy understands the needs of bringing together disparate communities, and champions the benefits of volunteering in reducing loneliness and isolation. She is interested in how flexible opportunities can create a pathway to participation, particularly as a route to improve the demographics of a group of volunteers.
Amy has volunteered in her spare time at National Trust as a Room Guide where she spends her time chatting to visitors, alongside supporting long-term international volunteers as a Mentor as part of the International Voluntary Service Programme.
Richard Pollitt
Museum staff
Director (Alexa Vernon) [email protected]
Community Curator (Laura Allen) [email protected]
Finance Manager (Jamie Taylor) [email protected]
Visitor Experience & Volunteer Manager (Freya Cox) [email protected]
Visitor Experience Officer (Elizabeth Penwell) [email protected]
Learning Officer (Katy O’Malley) [email protected]
Community Engagement Officer (Andy Bates) [email protected]
Project Administrator (Tania Berry) [email protected]
Garden Leader (Catherine Baxter) [email protected]
Front of House Coordinator (Felicity Head) [email protected]
Technical Assistant (Paul Grayson) [email protected]
Visitor Assistant (Jennie Hogg) [email protected]
