Working with volunteers

Volunteers are a community history’s projects single greatest asset and it’s important to give them a real sense of ownership. Do not take them for granted or overload them with work but be ready to respond to individual energies, commitment and skills. Support, appreciation, structured tasks and a visible use of a volunteer’s work is desirable.

Not everyone has the same skills. Some may have computer skills, others verbal or written, while some may excel in adminstration, dealing with the public, researching or simply lending a hand here and there or even just suggesting possible sources of information, photographs and interviews.

At St Levan we have built a loyal team of volunteers with varied skills. Initially, it seemed a rather daunting task to involve like-minded volunteers but one by one they came onboard.

After a few months, and with about half a dozen volunteers who were lending a hand, from opening and manning the community history centre one or even half a day a week to setting up interviews or doing research on the internet, we began to formulate a plan of action. A specific project emerged, onto which we could all focus our energies . . .

Compiling a local history book of the parish would not only give an ultimate product but it would also be a tangible goal and would encourage greater participation. The Book of St Levan, which was published in October 2004, was undoubtedly a sound idea. It soon brought many others with an interest in the parish’s history into the project and acted as a catalyst for the rest of the work. Old photographs were soon flowing through the scanner, a list of potential recordings grew and grew and old documents, artefacts, newspaper cuttings, memories and snippets of information began to pour in.

Compiling the book involved more than 20 people directly and many, many others indirectly. It brought people together and gave a sense of purpose. It also had the added benefit of bringing numbers of individuals who would otherwise perhaps not have been involved, into contact, even in a small way, with their heritage and people they had known in their youth. It was interesting to see on the list of subscribers to the book that more than half lived outside the parish but had strong links with it and many fond memories!

Social events – Through Porthcurno Museum the St Levan Community History project has enjoyed illustrated talks about the parish, lunches and even outings to places further afield. In addition the volunteers have continued to meet monthly to swap memories, chat and continue to work on gathering information.

Portable exhibitions of photographs have been mounted and taken to local shows such as St Buryan Vintage Agricultural Rally, Sennen Show and Newlyn Fish Festival. Doing this has publicised our work and provoked much interest and comment from visitors who frequently express sufficient interest to call into the centre at a later date.


Image: Volunteers enjoy a celebratory Christmas meal in the local pub

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