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Alexandra Palace is looking for a Volunteer Learning and Community Events Photographer

Volunteer Learning and Community Events Photographer

 

Role Description

 

Role Title:

Volunteer Learning and Community Events Photographer

Role Summary:

Alexandra Park & Palace Charitable Trust (APPCT) are looking for someone with a passion for taking photographs to capture images for our website and promotional material showing groups engaging with guides and the history of the Palace during the History Tours of the Palace - Saturday, 12th & Sunday, 13th April.  It is hoped the Photographer will also be able support the Learning and Community team with future events.

Organisation

Alexandra Palace is a Grade II listed north London landmark built in 1873 as a leisure facility on a grand scale. During the First World War the Park and Palace were used to house Belgian refugees and enemy aliens before becoming the home of the BBC between 1935 and 1981.


Alexandra Palace is setting out long term regeneration plans which both promote its heritage and widen public access to the most historically significant areas of the Park and Palace. As part of the wider plans our learning team now deliver cross curricular primary and secondary school workshops which both celebrate its rich heritage whilst enriching the national curriculum. Our programmes engage with audiences of different ages and abilities and celebrate the Park and Palace’s eclectic history through interactive and engaging workshops, art & craft activities and guided tours.

Outline of tasks:
  • Take photographs of groups engaging with guides and the history of the Park and Palace along the tour route

  • Ensure that all people in photographs agree to  having their photographs taken – there will be a sign advising people about photographs as they register

  • Edit the photographs after the event and send them through to Head of Learning and Community Programmes

Commitment:

We are looking for volunteers to commit to minimum of one day per event advanced notice will be given. For the purpose of supporting the History Tours for April the applicant would need to be free on either 12th/13th April.

Reports to:

Head of Learning and Community Programmes

Skills, Qualifications and  Personal Qualities Required (Essential):
  • Experience of taking high quality photographs

  • Ability to edit photos for website and promotional materials

  • Flexible in approach to role description

  • Friendly and approachable

Skills, Qualifications and Personal Qualities Required (Desirable)
  • Proactive, the ability to share information and knowledge with volunteers, visitors and staff.

  • Team player, enjoy working with others, fellow volunteers, the public, and stuff.

Standards of behaviour:
  • Polite, courteous and attentive to all visitors

  • Respectful and supportive to fellow volunteers and staff

  • To make oneself aware of forthcoming events and changes to procedures

What could you get out of volunteering with us:
  • Contributing something to the community by helping in the work of the Park and Palace Charitable Trust

  • Helping showcase the Park and Palace to a wider audience

  • Helping to keep a part of our heritage for future generations

  • Enjoying meeting a wide variety of visitors from all over the world

  • Opportunities to develop skills and expertise within the museum sector

  • Experience of learning within museums

  • Work experience that can be an invaluable addition to your CV and building confidence

  • Enjoyment in doing something you like while meeting new, like-minded people

How will you be helping us:

This volunteer role will enable us to improve the service we provide to the local community whilst providing a high quality customer service and information to enhance their experience.

Notes:
  • Applicants are considered on their merits and regarded equally

  • Volunteers will be inducted and trained to carry out the role

  • Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust will cover travel expenses to a maximum daily limit of a zone 1-6 travel card

Next steps

To apply please send a CV, examples of work and what interests you about the role, with the subject header Photographer to volunteering@alexandrapalace.com

Closing date

Wednesday, 9th April 2014

 

 

Tags for Forum Posts: alexandra, ally, ap, families, history, images, palace, palace., pally, people's, More…photography, tours

Views: 877

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lauren on April 4, 2014 at 17:57

Why don't you want to pay them?

Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on April 4, 2014 at 18:43
If the volunteers receive more expenses than discussed, why is this not clearly advertised on the job spec ? Why broadcast that only travel fairs get reimbursed ?

Also what is the palaces policy with paying people wages? When is it appropriate to ask someone to volunteer instead of paying them the minimum wage for example for an entry level temporary job? Does the palace have a policy on this ? A minimum ethical policy is to ensure that no volunteer position takes the work from another paid worker. Has the palace never paid photographers before ?
Permalink Reply by Hugh on April 4, 2014 at 18:38

Speaking as someone who now earns his living with a lens, I don't have a problem with this. Let's not be too precious; all charitable organisations have paid staff and a volunteer corps. There's nothing unusual in that. This might be a good opportunity for someone looking to build up a portfolio as a springboard for a career involving photography.

I'm really not sure where the ethical boundaries lie between which roles are properly paid and which should be volunteer ones. I imagine this is an well-rehearsed debate. Does anyone know what are the standard positions and their underpinning logic?

Permalink Reply by pamish on April 4, 2014 at 19:41

Scroll to the end of this post for an example of what can happen if you get someone in who 'takes good pictures'.  Mostly I feel so sorry for the photographer in this case, as they must have wanted to  disappear into a hole in the ground and never emerge when they saw what they had done.

Permalink Reply by pamish on April 4, 2014 at 18:41

Missing from that impressive job description is the list of equipment this volunteer is expected to handle. I presume the Trust will supply them with the range of kit needed to successfully complete a job like this, with plenty of allowance for contingencies. A couple of SLR bodies, a range of lenses, flash, tripod?, lights? and a decent PC with appropriate legal software - the sort of kit a freelance is expected to provide within the day rate for a job. Can you let us know what's on offer please, and who will be providing the training on how to use it?

Permalink Reply by Angela on April 4, 2014 at 19:20

Yes, this is the second time that AP has recently asked for volunteers as opposed to offering an apprenticeship or a short-term contract.

Permalink Reply by pamish on April 4, 2014 at 19:33

Ally Pally needs loads of building work done. I see loads of builders hanging around outside Wickes whenever i shop there. Shall I ask them if they fancy going and doing a day's work in exchange for lunch? Win-win surely? Oh, but they are used to working for money. But they will be so grateful for the chance to enhance their portfolio, surely?  That will keep their children fed.

Permalink Reply by pamish on April 4, 2014 at 20:38

Permalink Reply by Straw Cat on April 4, 2014 at 21:06

At page 28 Appendix 13.3 within the report to the board of trustees last year

there is a proposed "Volunteer strategy and Policy for Alexandra Palace", not yet adopted as far as I know.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on April 4, 2014 at 21:52

Thanks SC, that's helpful. Perhaps what reading that did for me was to contrast the spirit of that policy with what may well come across as a rather different spirit to the one in this volunteer request. 

Perhaps this volunteer request comes across as somewhat more of a job ad seeking the highest possible skills, the most skilled photographer - which perhaps slants the feel to more of a 'what can you do for us and are you good enough to help us', in the same way that an employer would be seeking someone.

In contrast, the policy gives more of a sense of there being great mutual gain from the volunteering contract with a genuine focus on volunteer development in exchange for time.

I know there's a section in the ad on What could you get out of volunteering with us, but job ads also have a section like this and somehow it does little to dispel the spirit of the document as a whole being a precursor to the formation of an unequal contract where the contractee must be good enough to deliver a service to the contractor.

Whether this sense I get is the result of a certain style of communication or a genuinely different motivation to the one suggested by the policy, I am unclear.

Permalink Reply by pamish on April 5, 2014 at 0:33

What pushed my buttons so much here is indeed the style of the job description.  It reads exactly like the sort of contract i have had in the past from Haringey, which would need to be negotiated before a (one-off, freelance) job, plus details of the agreed fee, at NUJ day rates.

Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on April 10, 2014 at 9:14
Still waiting for lots of answers here Mel, a response would be nice.

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