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right-6667500Wordsworth Grasmere Traineeships 2021 Collections TraineeThe Details:Job title: Collections TraineeDuration: Fixed Term Contract for 11 months, starting Monday 1 March 2021Working Hours: This is a full-time role (37.5 hours per week), 5 days out of 7 days per week (including some weekends)Salary: National Minimum Wage/Living Wage if age 25+Location: Grasmere, Cumbria, UK (staff accommodation is available – you’ll find more information in this pack)Application Closing Date: Monday 14th December at 9AM GMTAbout Wordsworth Grasmere:Wordsworth Grasmere is a heritage site dedicated to the life and legacy of the poet William Wordsworth. We are based in the hamlet of Town End, on the edge of Grasmere village in the heart of the Lake District in Cumbria. Dove Cottage, the Wordsworth family home between 1799-1808, lies at the heart of the site. Whilst living here, Wordsworth married, started a family, and wrote most of his best and well-loved poetry. His sister Dorothy, a talented and celebrated writer, also kept her famous Grasmere journal at Dove Cottage. The Wordsworth Trust (the charity that oversees Wordsworth Grasmere) was founded in 1890, and Dove Cottage first opened to visitors in 1891. A great deal has changed since then! Today, Dove Cottage and its beautiful garden sit alongside our museum (due to reopen in spring 2021), the Jerwood Centre (our collections centre and archive), the Learning Space (for formal and informal learning activities), a sensory garden, an educational woodland area, and a café. In 1804, Wordsworth wrote that he hoped his poetry would ‘live and do good’. We aim to fulfil this legacy by seeking to make the Wordsworths’ words and experiences, our collection and the wider themes of British Romanticism representative of and relevant to as many participants as possible. We achieve this through:Our onsite visitor experience, and an inclusive and collaborative exhibitions and events programmeOur education programmes Our community outreach and engagement programmes Our digital work (which is now more important than ever)Our collection contains around 70,000 objects. We hold the largest collection of original Wordsworth manuscripts in the world, as well as a library of major works from poets and writers during the Romantic period in English literature. We also care for a large collection of Lake District artworks, and a great deal of local history too. Wordsworth Grasmere is part of the Cumbria Museum Consortium (CMC), a partnership with Tullie House Museum Trust (based in the city of Carlisle), and Lakeland Arts (a number of heritage sites across the south lakes area). We have been working together since 2012 on a number of projects with funding from Arts Council England.Reimagining Wordsworth‘Reimagining Wordsworth’ are two words you are likely to see a lot if you browse our website, social media channels, and if you come to visit. Reimagining Wordsworth is the name of a National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) major redevelopment project we have been working on for the last few years. It has drastically changed the way our site looks, the way visitors interact with us, and the activities we offer. The main purpose of this project is to ‘reimagine’ the way we share Wordsworth’s life and words with the world (essentially encouraging people to look beyond the widespread stereotypical image of the old stuffy poet that wrote about daffodils). Instead, we wish to help people to discover more about a man whose poetry encourages us to show empathy to others, to nurture our creative imaginations, and to connect with nature. The big date we were working towards was 7 April 2020: Wordsworth’s 250th birthday. For us, this was the perfect time to open our new site to the public and to celebrate Wordsworth’s place in our lives today. But, like so many other plans all over the world, we were put on pause by Covid-19 and lockdown in the UK. Like many other organisations, we went into survival mode! Most of our staff went on furlough, with a few remaining to care for the site and to continue our work digitally wherever possible. We were able to safely reopen Dove Cottage and our onsite café to visitors in late summer/autumn (though at the time of writing we are closed once again in line with current lockdown rules) and we are now looking ahead for our new museum to open in spring 2021. We are adapting to the new and continuously changing circumstances as best we can, and we’re finding new ways of bringing Wordsworth’s life and story to the world! Going forward, we plan to build upon our exploration of the wider themes of British Romanticism by using the many stories and artefacts of other writers and artists within our collection to help us connect empathetically with wider audiences. Diversity We believe:That diversity and equality within our workplace, within our programmes and in our outlook is crucialIn the fairness and necessity of offering equal opportunities to all This is what we are working towards. We recognise the importance of input from a diverse body of voices and we intend to include more perspectives that are currently under-represented in our organisation. We intend to create an environment of equal opportunity irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity (including race and nationality), gender (including gender reassignment, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy or maternity), religion or belief and/or sexual orientation (including civil partnership or marital status). Our organisation aims to promote equality of opportunity for all. Some examples of our recent inclusive projects with marginalised groups include:We are working with adults with physical disabilities in West Cumbria (members of Allerdale Copeland Occupational Social Centre (COSC), to explore how we can help make the writing of William and Dorothy Wordsworth accessible for more people today. Our ‘Poetry & Paint’ project at Haverigg Prison, a men’s open prison in south-west Cumbria. We worked with local artist Alison Critchlow to deliver creative engagement sessions with 12 men from the prison’s basic literacy group, exploring Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’.We are working with the Children’s Society, through their Connecting Opportunities project, on a refugee employability project with the aim of encouraging and supporting participants to pursue careers in the heritage sector. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and we will work to ensure that all our team, participants and visitors are treated fairly and are not subjected to discrimination of any kind.Our Traineeship ProgrammeWe’ve been running a training scheme in various forms since 1977, and we’re really proud of having supported so many people in starting careers in the museums and heritage sector. Our Traineeships are funded by Arts Council England. SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1 Former Trainees outside Dove CottageWho can apply?Our Traineeship opportunities are open to everyone, and we encourage everyone to apply. You don’t need to have specific qualifications or experience, nor do you need to know all about Wordsworth! We are looking for people who are enthusiastic about heritage and learning, committed to self-development, and who will benefit from the training opportunities we have to offer. You can find out more about who we are looking for in the person specification for this role. We are determined to redress the balance of inequality by providing a set of skills, learning experiences and space to build the representation that is currently missing within the heritage sector. We therefore particularly welcome applications from candidates that are under-represented in the museums and heritage sector, including black and minority ethnic candidates, candidates from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and/or candidates with a disability.When you apply, you’ll be asked to show you are eligible to work in the UK and will be subject to identity checks. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this Traineeship. How the programme works:Each year, we recruit a group of Trainees to work with us for 11 months on a fixed term contract. The programme focuses around two main areas: engaging with our visitors and gaining specialised experience within a specific department. You will be equipped with all the knowledge and training you need to be able to fulfil your role and make the most out of your time with us, and we’ll support your learning and growth throughout your 11 month programme. All Trainees become a key part of our Visitor Experience Team and, through helping visitors enjoy our spaces and activities, you’ll build up a solid bank of experience in the day to day running of a busy heritage site (which we hope will be even busier in 2021!). This primarily involves welcoming visitors to Dove Cottage and helping them explore the immersive experience we offer. Trainees will also play a key role in welcoming visitors to our new museum (scheduled to open in spring 2021), and helping them safely explore five new gallery spaces, viewing platform and gift shop in line with social distancing guidelines. Trainees will also gain experiences in one other area. Depending on which role you apply for, this will be Collections, Education, or advanced Visitor Experience. Trainees typically spend 60% of time with visitors and 40% of time working within their chosen area. This can change during busy periods; for example, during the summer season when we welcome more visitors, Trainees can expect to spend more time working ‘front of house’ whether that be in Dove Cottage, the museum or the ticket office and shop. In the quieter times of the year (late autumn/winter) Trainees can expect to spend more time working within their specific areas. We believe that the range of learning experiences our programme offers will help you build a solid foundation of experience in the day-to-day running of a busy heritage site, both in front of and behind the scenes.Each Trainee will have a dedicated line manager who will mentor you, provide training and supervise your day-to-day work. At the beginning of your Traineeship, we’ll work with you to create a set of Continuing Professional Development goals (CPD), and identify opportunities to achieve those goals, throughout the year using our training framework. We’ll revisit this plan with you regularly and will encourage you to take proactive ownership of your professional development. Throughout your Traineeship, you will also be supported by Melissa Mitchell, Assistant Curator and Traineeship Co-ordinator. Melissa will provide overall support (on matters beyond day-to-day work), further mentorship and development opportunities. Our internal teams are small and, as key members of them, you will have the chance to get involved in many fundamental areas of our work. As part of our ambitious learning and engagement programmes, we have goals to achieve, standards to uphold and targets to meet, and this too will be a key part of your role. Over the course of the programme, you’ll be given responsibility for specific projects, deliverables and targets, and other areas of work, and while we will always be there to support you, our aim is that you leave feeling confident and equipped with the right skills and knowledge to work independently. Collections Trainee Job Description & Person SpecificationThe Collections Trainee role is ideal for someone looking to begin a career in heritage, with a focus on managing and caring for museum collections. If you are curious about museums and historic artefacts, this is a great opportunity to build a solid foundation of experience in working with collections. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in working with our fine art collection. As part of our Collections Team, you’ll be given the training and support needed to help us both manage our collection and allow people to engage with the many stories it holds. The Collections Team includes: Jeff Cowton, Curator & Head of LearningMelissa Mitchell, Assistant Curator & Traineeship Co-ordinatorRebecca Turner, Assistant CuratorPoppy Garrett, Assistant Curator/ Assistant to the CuratorYour supervisors and mentors will be Rebecca and Poppy (who are currently working in a job-share), with Melissa and Jeff also providing additional support. You can see us here: descriptionIn your role as Collections Trainee, you will:Advocate for the work of Wordsworth Grasmere, sharing our story and the lives and writing of the Wordsworths with a diverse range of visitorsWelcome visitors to the site, sell tickets and merchandise, promote events and activities, help with visitor orientation and make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experienceAccompany visitors around Dove Cottage, enabling their enjoyment of the house by bringing to life the Wordsworths’ day-to-day experience and the words they wrote here Assist in the day-to-day running of the Jerwood Centre (our library and archive), supporting behind the scenes collections management activities (such as cleaning, audits)Assist in reviewing the development and storage of our collectionSupervise and assist visiting researchersAnswer enquiries about the collection from members of the public Catalogue objects using MODES collections management softwareConduct tours of our collections centreDeliver introductory talks about the collectionSupport the curatorial team in projects, events and activities relating to the collectionDevelop a good knowledge of collections care and conservation housekeeping, implementing this in your day-to-day work Ensure compliance with Health and Safety regulationsUnderstand and participate in emergency procedures, ensuring the safety and security of people across the siteParticipate fully in on-the-job training activities for this role, delivered by experienced members of staffConduct work off site if requiredThere is also a voluntary opportunity to join our site security team, giving valuable experience in site operations.Person specificationWe are looking for people who meet the following essential requirements. Curious about historical artefacts and places, and the stories they tellEnthusiastic about:Learning how to provide informative, fun and meaningful experiences for our visitors Communicating with a diverse range of people in a variety of circumstancesDeveloping and sharing knowledge of the Wordsworths’ lives and words, and wider British Romanticism Applying accuracy and attention to detail (for example when researching, cataloguing and handling artefacts)Committed to personal development, and motivated to learn new skills Able to work independently, and also as part of a teamReliable, punctual, and adaptableWilling to make the most of this opportunityWhat you’ll gainUltimately, the key goal of the Traineeship is for you to leave with the skills and experience you need to take the next step in your career — whatever that might be. Many of our former Collections Trainees have gone on to become Collections Assistants or Assistant Curators at other museums, and from there have progressed to roles such as Collections Manager or Curator. Other Trainees have taken up further studies, and others have applied the skills they’ve learned to roles outside the museums sector. As a Collections Trainee, you’ll gain a solid working knowledge and experience in:The daily operations of a busy heritage site (historic house, museum and learning/community spaces) and the different roles/departments involved in the running of a heritage organisation How we use our collection and its stories to engage a diverse range of audiences in Cumbria, the UK and around the world The daily operations of a collections archive Researching, handling and caring for a variety of historical artefacts (primarily books, manuscripts, artworks), and cataloguing them using MODES collections management softwareMaintaining best practise in collections management as defined by Spectrum (the UK Collections Management Standard) Dealing with research enquiries and supervising researchersImplementing preventative conservation methods Life as a Trainee & Staff AccommodationA big part of being a Trainee is coming to live and work in such a unique and beautiful part of the world! As mentioned above, we are based on the edge of Grasmere village in the heart of the Lake District in Cumbria, North West of England. The Lake District is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year. Staff AccommodationAlongside Dove Cottage, Museum and other buildings in Town End, the Wordsworth Trust also owns several residential properties that are home to many of our staff. We also offer Trainees the chance to move into our staff accommodation for the duration of the Traineeship. If you would prefer to live elsewhere, that’s also fine by us. The accommodation we offer is a private, double bedroom within a large shared house. The rent is around ?75 per week and all bills are included. You’ll also have one of the most beautiful places in the UK right on your doorstep, and whether you want to climb a mountain or read a book by the lake, you can really make the most of living in such a unique place as part of your Traineeship. Local Amenities Despite being located in the middle of some spectacular mountains, Grasmere is not as remote as you might think. We’re located on the A591, which is the main road through the Lake District, and on which a regular bus service operates and connects all the main towns in the area. The nearest train station is in Windermere, which is about a 20-minute car ride/ 30 minute bus journey from Grasmere. The train at Windermere connects directly to the west coast mainline. If you have a car, you are very welcome to bring that with you (we have a staff car parking area on site, but a space is not always guaranteed). In terms of shops and amenities, you can definitely get what you need without having to travel far. To give you a sense of what shops/services are in the area:Grasmere village: Has a well-stocked Co-Op (open 7 days a week), a pharmacy and a selection of lovely cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops. The centre of Grasmere village is around a 10-minute walk from our site. AmblesideThe town closest to Grasmere (4 miles away) which has more of the same and is where the nearest doctors surgery is based. It is about a five-minute car journey, 10 minutes on the bus or a very lovely hour’s walk). Ambleside also has some lovely restaurants and a great cinema.WindermereThe train station is here, as well as the closest supermarket, Booths, which is right next to the station (9 miles from Grasmere). KendalAround 18 miles to the south of Grasmere, this large town has several supermarkets (including Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons). There is also a hospital in Kendal (Westmorland General Hospital) but it does not have an A&E department – the closest emergency department is at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (44 miles from Grasmere).Supermarkets do deliver to Grasmere as well, so online shopping is definitely an option. More informationWe have active social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (search for Wordsworth Grasmere) where we share a great deal of what we get up to! We also have a YouTube channel – to see more of what our Trainees do, and some of the Collections & Learning team in action, take a look at these films:An introduction to our Traineeship, recorded by former Education Trainee Ella in 2018. A couple of things have changed since then (mainly the museum!), but Ella talks about life in Grasmere, what it’s like to live here, and how the Traineeship has helped her develop professionally: Trainees Tavia and Jenny sing some autumn songs! ‘Rucksack of Rhymes’ Session, delivered remotely by Zoe, our Education Development Manager: Collections Trainee Abi shares one of her favourite treasures from our collection: Collections Trainee Esther shares one of her favourite treasures from our collection: Education Trainees Hannah and Ellie demonstrate how to make traditional pace eggs: a Tour of our Reading Room in the Jerwood Centre with Assistant Curator Melissa: the scenes of our 2018 Mary Shelley exhibition, featuring Melissa and Jeff, Curator & Head of Learning: , intern from Brigham Young University, explores how the writings of William and Dorothy Wordsworth can help us talk about vulnerability: Would They Think: a film made by members of Allerdale COSC Day Centre. Members of COSC, which provides a wide range of opportunities for adults with physical disabilities, are collaborating with us to explore attitudes to disability in the 1800s and now, and how we might make the writing of William and Dorothy Wordsworth accessible for more people today. Application ProcessApplications close on Monday 14th December at 9AM GMT How to apply?Below you will find a short application form to complete. We also invite you to send either a letter or short film to us, answering the questions you’ll find listed in the application form. You will also find an equal opportunities monitoring form, which we would be very grateful if you could complete and return to us with your application. Please send your completed application to Melissa Mitchell at melissa.mitchell@.uk. If you are sending a film as part of your application, please send it to Melissa at the same email address, in mp4 format with your name in the file name, via WeTransfer ()We will send you an email to confirm we have received your application. We usually receive a high volume of applications and it takes us a while to review them all (which is why we leave a good amount of time between applications closing and interview dates). We will let you know if your application is unsuccessful. InterviewsInterviews will be held online via Zoom on Tuesday 19th January. If we would like to meet you for an interview, you’ll receive an invitation via email from Melissa (with at least one week’s notice before the interview takes place). Data Protection InformationCompleted application forms and supplementary information provided by you in support of your application will be retained by the Wordsworth Trust in a secure place for a period of 6 months, after which time the information will be destroyed. Details of short-listed applicants (application form and supplementary information provided in support of an application, references, interviewer/task notes) will be held for a further 6 months, after which time the information will be destroyed, excepting for persons who subsequently take up employment with the Trust.Finally…You’ll find the application form and equal opportunities monitoring form on the following pages. If you would like to know anything else about the Traineeship or life in Grasmere, or if you have any questions about the application process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Melissa at melissa.mitchell@.uk. She is very happy to answer any questions, and can chat over email or arrange an online call with you. Collections Trainee Application FormPersonal informationNameTelephoneEmailRefereesPlease give the contact details of two people who could be asked to provide a reference. One of these should be your current or most recent employer. We will not contact referees prior to interview. NameNameAddressAddressTelephoneTelephoneEmailEmailPlease answer the questions below in one of the following ways:In a letter (no more than 2 sides of A4 paper)In a short film (no longer than 10 minutes). Questions:Why are you interested in the role of Collections Trainee?How do you meet the qualities and abilities outlined in the Person Specification? Which of these would you like to develop further?When answering this question, we encourage you to think broadly about how you can demonstrate your enthusiasm and motivation to develop in this role – it doesn’t have to be experience within a work environment. What do you hope to gain from the Traineeship, and what would make it a success for you?Please feel free to include anything else you’d like us to know about you. By checking this box, I confirm that the information provided in my application is true and accurate.Date:Please send this completed form and your accompanying letter/film to Melissa Mitchellmelissa.mitchell@.uk If you are sending a film as part of your application, please send it to Melissa at the same email address, in mp4 format with your name in the file name, via WeTransfer ()Equal Opportunities: Monitoring FormPlease complete the following questionnaire and return it to us – it will be detached from your application upon receipt. This data will help us to monitor our applications and take positive steps to attract applications from underrepresented groups. Thank you very much for your help. Name: ________________________________________________________Date of Birth: ________________________________________________________Gender: Man / Woman / Prefer not to say Nationality: ________________________________________________________Ethnic origin: 6927851968500White6927852603500Asian or British Asian6940553238500Black or British Black6934203365500Chinese6927853365500Mixed or Dual Heritage6915153238500Any other ethnic group6921503365500Not known / prefer not to sayDo you consider yourself to be disabled?Yes / NoIf so, is there any help we can provide, or barrier you would like us to address, in order to offer you a fair interview? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ................
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