As a service, we occasionally host work-placements for students – in this blog, Alicia, a final year student studying at the University of Bradford shares her experiences/
She writes:
To complete a 40-credit work placement with a reputable organisation as a final-year University of Bradford student, I had the opportunity to work with Bradford Museums and Galleries across three of their museums: Bradford Industrial Museum, Bolling Hall Museum, and Cartwright Hall Art Gallery.
My work placement at Bradford Museums and Galleries (between 4th December 2024 to 16th April 2025) was a great experience. The placement has allowed me to develop an insight into events management, community and public outreach, and engagement with adults and children. I was involved in different activities, including events and understood how risk assessments play a key role.
I took part in day-to-day tasks such as conducting visitor surveys, making cardboard diaries for children when they visit with their school, cut out shapes and Christmas tree ornaments for children to do participate in arts and crafts and assisting them with using marble art paint to tie dye. I also stewarded, meeting and greeting visitors, attending meetings and training (in person and on Microsoft Teams). I learnt to input visitor survey data into the Illuminate Database for the Arts Council from both Bolling Hall and Industrial Museum.
I supported events including the International Women’s Day event and helped with the lead-up to the Witch Trial and Fortune Telling event for children. I learnt skills from shadowing the family learning officer Alison Brophy and assisted by gathering research and organising the event with her.
Bradford has been named City of Culture 2025, since the start of the year footfall has increased at the museums. Cartwright Hall cafe was also extremely busy, and I assisted as a cafe volunteer at the Refreshment Room café, to help out with their increased workload. The cafe staff (Natasha and Diane) gave me great feedback because I was so helpful.
I shadowed printing volunteers in the printing gallery. They demonstrated and guided me through each step in detail of how old printing machinery works. They created posters by using the old lettering press machine and rolled ink out, they also created certificates for schools and other organisations visiting. I had the experience of completing a risk assessment on the potential risks that can happen at children’s events.
An important part of my placement was attending a risk assessment meeting in person at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery alongside Sonja Kielty. These risk assessments are often behind the scenes but vital for the smooth running of events.
This was a meeting with cafe manager Natasha Worthington on December 17th 2024, I shadowed Sonja Kielty, my placement coordinator, and heard about the potential risks that might occur at the museum cafe, like fires starting, falling over, being stabbed by sharp objects and cutting/burning yourself. It included the changes to be made as well to ensure these risks did not occur. For example, ensuring that knives were not placed facing up in the dishwasher as well as having regular meetings, logbooks, and current risk assessment forms using a score chart of the high, medium, and low risks.
As I spent my time with the children and families at Bradford Museums, I developed transferable skills that have inspired me to pursue a career in teaching and supporting families and working with vulnerable children after I graduate. It was enjoyable to spend time getting to know the families and their children, some of whom had a unique background, disability, and vulnerability.
Skills and Development
While on my placement at the museums, I completed and developed knowledge and skills through attending training on Safeguarding, Neurodiversity, Environmental Action, and How to Make Museums Safe and enjoyable for Children. I shadowed Alison Brophy and her colleagues in Family Learning and was required to think about changes that can be made to make the museums safe and fun for children and families visiting.
We had to bear in mind that some artefacts at the museums are outdated, unsafe, or less engaging. We worked to add fresh new ideas makes a family experience better. For example, the changes consisted of adding new toys in the rooms, like toy soldiers in the Civil War room inside Bolling Hall Museum and moving unsafe objects like stands out of the way so children do not bump into them on theirschool trip or whilst visiting with their families.
New chairs added for children to sit on during lunch as the chairs they had were outdated and not ideal. The skills I learned that are related to this include problem-solving and taking the initiative to improve a child’s experience comfort and wellbeing during their family or school visit. We worked by using innovation and creativity to introduce ideas to improve a child’s experience. Paying attention to safety and detail in identifying and addressing hazards was a key component.
I’m proud to share that I was recently selected as a Young Ambassador for the Museums – a role offered through a highly competitive application process. As part of this position, I’ll be helping to shape and promote youth engagement in the museum sector. I was first introduced to the programme in 2024, when I assisted with the Young Ambassadors’ Finale event. I helped lead activities including festive decorating and marbling, which gave me a firsthand look at how creative and impactful the role could be.