Bristol volunteers at the heart of science and discovery

• We The Curious Volunteer Programme is almost 20 years old.

• Over these 20 years, we have worked with over 2,000 volunteers.

• These volunteers have contributed an incredible over 75,000 hours of support!

Looking back: Two decades of inspiring journeys

To illustrate the journey of our volunteers, we recently brought together John, one of the first We The Curious Curious volunteers from two decades ago who now works at the SSGB as their Communities Officer, and Eloise, one of our newest and youngest volunteers, who supports our Home Education days after being home educated herself as a child.

It’s inspiring to see the significant difference our volunteers make every day for our visitors. Equally important is the motivation and development that staff working with volunteers gain, and of course, the sheer joy and fun that volunteers experience from being a part of our We The Curious community. John's and Eloise's stories highlight the incredibly varied and impactful pathways volunteers have taken over these two decades. 

We’ve seen individuals grow from volunteers into staff roles, including members of our Leadership Team. Some have even transitioned from volunteer to staff, and then gone on to become trustees, demonstrating a deep, sustained commitment to our mission. Our programme also supports staff members transitioning to volunteer roles, and we’ve seen community partners, like Isabelle who originally worked with us on Project What If, become dedicated volunteers.

Beyond our internal programme, we are very proud to have supported the development of the ASDC Volunteering Award to celebrate, encourage, and recognise volunteers across our sector nationally. You can see the 2024 ASDC volunteer award winners announced here!

National Volunteer Week 2025: A year of celebrating volunteers 

This year, we've had some fantastic moments that truly showcase the power and dedication of our volunteer community. We're thrilled to be officially celebrating receiving the Investing In Volunteering status, a testament to our commitment to supporting our volunteers, during the National Volunteer Week.

In a fantastic demonstration of their integral role, our staff meeting is becoming a 'Volunteer Takeover' where volunteers will be running the show. It's also been wonderful to welcome back Amy Seakins as a trustee; she actually started as a volunteer with us over 10 years ago (I think!). We're also delighted to have Annabelle Foot, an active volunteer who also serves as a trustee with us. Beyond our immediate team, we recently hosted 20 SSGB and 20 Bristol Zoo project volunteers – it was so inspiring to see the amazing difference volunteers make across our sector.

Hear from our community: The voices of our volunteers and staff

The heart of our Volunteer Programme truly comes alive through the words of those who experience it first hand. Our staff consistently share how volunteers "enhance the visitor experience," providing more interaction and a different energy that allows for deeper conversations. As one staff member put it, "Our volunteers are actually really representative of the demographic of the population of Bristol," and "They [volunteers] are integral to who we are… the culture of the organisation is heavily influenced by volunteers - they are at our heart.”

Our volunteers, in turn, speak of the profound sense of belonging and impact. Many feel "you really do feel like part of the We The Curious community," treated "absolutely as an equal." There's a real satisfaction in seeing "that lightbulb moment on a child’s face, that pure joy of discovering something new – irreplaceable." Volunteers often highlight our inclusive environment, with one commenting, "They are just so inclusive, so accommodating. I can honestly say that I have never come across an organisation that is as good at it as they are," and another adding, "They’ve nailed it, the whole inclusivity thing… it’s just such a nice space to be in."

Happy National Volunteer Week!

We extend our deepest gratitude to every single volunteer who has contributed to We The Curious. Your passion and commitment are what make our centre so special. Thank you.