Volunteering

We welcome volunteers and really value the contribution they make to our work.

By joining one of our volunteer projects you'll:

Help preserve Norfolk’s archives and improve access to our collections
Get hands-on experience of working with Norfolk’s archive heritage
Improve your skills and knowledge
Do something worthwhile
Meet other people interested in history

You must be aged 18 or over to volunteer with us.

Volunteers work at the Record Office Tuesdays to Thursdays, generally for half a day per week. We don't usually offer full-time or short-term placements.

We have about 20 regular volunteers. Sometimes you may have to wait for a place to become available.

Currently we cannot accept new volunteers on site. This is because we do not have enough space to accommodate volunteers whilst maintaining social distancing.

In the meantime, we offer opportunities to volunteer from home.

Current opportunities to volunteer from home

Indexing St Andrew’s Hospital case books, 1846-early 20th century

Transcribing civil registration birth indexes, 1837-mid 20th century

Birth indexes transcription role description

If you would like to join either of these projects, please email norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk.

Why not also try our online transcription project? For more details see the Volunteering at King's Lynn Borough Archives section.

Volunteer projects on site at the Record Office

Please note that currently we are not accepting new volunteers for these projects.

Indexing Norwich building control plans, 1895-1945

Indexing poor law settlement papers

Indexing post 1857 wills

Role description

Indexing Norwich birth indexes 1837-1895

Role description

Cleaning and repackaging the Hornor Collection of maps, 18th century-20th century

Assisting with collection care role description

Assisting at education and outreach events

There are also occasional opportunities to help our education and outreach team with events.

Assisting education and outreach role description

Other volunteering opportunities

Other volunteers meet about every six weeks on Wednesday mornings to sew ‘seal socks’ - foam sleeves which protect document seals.

Now and then we recruit people to research and write posts for the NRO blog.

If you're interested in joining the seal sock or research bloggers groups email norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk.

Placements and Work Experience

Find out more about our Introduction to Archive Research days and blogging placements.

Volunteering at King’s Lynn Borough Archives

Volunteers based at the King’s Lynn Borough Archives are currently transcribing documents from the Borough’s records, including the hall books, quarter sessions books and medieval charters.

They are also beginning a project to index building control plans for the town, dating from 1883 to c1959.

You can help transcribe the King's Lynn Hall books from home, using our Zooniverse transcription webpage. To find out more, see our blog post about this project.

Our Lynn volunteers also research and write posts for the NRO blog.

We are not currently accepting new volunteers on site at the Borough Archives.

For information about volunteering at Lynn, email norfrec@norfolk.gov.uk.