Bath Medical Museum (BMM) is a small volunteer and peer-led charitable organisation with the mission to preserve and promote the history and importance of medicine in the city of Bath. They are a very warm, friendly, multicultural and intergenerational team, all working towards the common goal of improving wellbeing. The museum is housed in a distinctive environment – a Georgian pump room – creating a relaxed and non-intimidating atmosphere within the historical context of Bath’s heritage.

I started volunteering at BMM in September 2023, and it was the best thing I could have done during what was otherwise a very slow and quiet period for me. I had just moved back home since graduating from my MA in Museum and Heritage Studies in Amsterdam and was looking for work in the very competitive cultural sector. BMM warmly welcomed me and gave me something to look forward to, as well as a sense of purpose. 

Thanks to Paul’s enthusiasm and support, I became very involved with the curatorial team. Designing posters for exhibitions offered me a creative outlet and improved my understanding on producing accessible and informative posters for different audiences. More importantly, I have observed the collective memories related to accessing medical treatment for different social groups, and I find the way that BMM affirms and documents these feelings and shared experiences very unique. 

In particular, I love the way that Bath Medical Museum offers a platform for the respect and appreciation of wellbeing practices that may be marginalised or non-privileged within Western and Eurocentric medical models and perspectives.  Irene’s wonderful weekly ‘Wellbeing Tuesday’ sessions gave me an opportunity to explore wellbeing from a different angle, whether that be physical, emotional or psychological. In these sessions, we explore perspectives of wellbeing that foster self-awareness, mindfulness and resilience, such as through ceremonial Japanese tea drinking; Thai Buddhist meditation techniques; and forest bathing in local ancient woodlands. 

Furthermore, the team at Bath Medical Museum were a pillar of support when it came to job searching and improving my interview technique. Paul was especially instrumental in my approach to landing a job at the University of Manchester, where I now work in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Though I didn’t manage to find a job in museums, I find myself guided by a similar ethics of love and care in my new role, which I expanded during my time as volunteer community curator at BMM. I don’t think I can express in words how grateful I am to have been involved in BMM’s brilliant work, and I’m excited to see what they get up to in the months to come! 

If you’re thinking of becoming a volunteer, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I promise you won’t regret it!