Volunteer Organisation Network Celebration Event

The long-established VON (Voluntary Organisations Network) brings together volunteer-based museums in North East England (and potentially other interested museums from across the North).

Volunteers are the backbone of many museums, with smaller museums especially often entirely or mainly volunteer run. Recognising the particular nature and challenges of volunteer-based museums, the group has a 90-minute meeting once a month (mainly online with some in person visits) for informal sharing of experience around current activities, challenges and best practice. We will sometimes theme the session with a speaker on a particular topic.

This event will showcase the achievements and experience of some of the current VON ‘regulars’ and also offer opportunities for networking and discussion among current and potential VON participants. Our objective is to introduce the group – currently about 10 ‘regulars’, take stock of current experience/challenges, and to reach out to other museums in the locality who might benefit from participating in VON. We also want to find out what sort of group might work best for everyone as VON develops in the future.

For more information about the venue see Discovery Museum - Make your own discovery... or Visit Discovery Museum | Discovery Museum for travel information. 

By Car: From the South - Head over Redheugh Bridge (A189) following signs for city centre west and continue onto St. James' Boulevard. Discovery Museum is signposted from here.

From the North - Heading into the city centre from the north, follow signs for the football stadium, St. James' Park. On reaching the football stadium continue on the A189 south (St. James' Boulevard) and turn right onto Westgate Road followed by an immediate left into Blandford Square.

From the West - Coming along Scotswood Road (A695) into the west of the city, turn left onto St. James' Boulevard (A189) and follow signs to Discovery Museum from here.

From the East - If you are travelling from the east of the city, we recommend entering the city centre from the north and follow the instructions above.

Parking: We advise parking at the Grainger Town multi-storey car park on Waterloo Street. It is a three minute walk to Discovery Museum. There are two parking spaces for Blue Badge holders in Blandford Square car park.

By Train/Bus: Discovery Museum is an eight minute walk from Central Station. Many buses stop nearby on Neville Street and Westmorland Road. The museum is well signposted.

Please contact the Nexus traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit the Traveline website for more information about public transport.

Access: This event will take place in the Carpathia Room. This is located on the ground floor of the museum, with fully accessible access from the main entrance to the museum (you will be directed from the main entrance reception). Wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities equipped with handrails and emergency cords are available on the ground floor of the museum, check out this link for more access information: Accessibility Information | Discovery Museum

Catering: As part of MD North’s commitment to environmental responsibility and carbon reduction, catering for our in-person events is vegetarian and vegan. We encourage you to bring a reusable hot drink cup and water bottle, and perhaps a Tupperware to take home any leftovers to minimise food waste.

To ensure as many museums as possible can attend, please book tickets for no more than 2 of your team.