Barnardo's Making Connections team based in Plaistow, East London has two functions; to manage Barnardo's extensive historical collections including over 500,000 children's records and to provide access to records for all children who were in Barnardo's care or adopted through Barnardo's. Making Connections core purpose is to provide access to records for adults seeking information about their past.
Our Making Connections Service based in Plaistow, East London holds the archive of records for every child who has been resident in a home, school or family placement within Barnardos since the organisation began in the 1860's.
Making Connections core purpose is to provide access to records for adults seeking information about their past.
Our volunteers play an invaluable part at helping contribute to our online record archive; improving accessibility, the speed that records can be accessed and helping to ensure that the archive remains a vital tool for preserving the history of our children.
Good Organisational skills
Strong attention to detail
Interest in history - this could be family history, local or social history
Approachable and welcoming
Comfortable working with physical media, e.g. Books, Photographs, film and records
Computer literacy including working with scanners and printers
Familiar with and having a good understanding of information systems, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and other computer packages.
Good Communication skills, both verbally and in writing and able to interact with colleagues, other volunteers and visitors
Reliable, punctual and trustworthy
Our Opportunities
The archive team of Barnardo's Making Connections is currently seeking well-organised, diligent volunteers to work with the archive, research and office support team, supporting with access to service user records and family history research.
Volunteers will be helping contribute to our archive by transcribing records and digitising photographs and documents in our archive including; all our personal index cards, photographs, posters and other multi-media information.