The Marsh Awards

Contact us

For more information about volunteering, email: [email protected]

Write to us:
Volunteers Office
The British Museum
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DG

Each year the British Museum and the Marsh Charitable Trust recognise the contribution of volunteers across the United Kingdom through the 'Volunteers for Museum Learning Award'.

The award celebrates the achievements and contribution of volunteers in museums, galleries and heritage sites all over the United Kingdom, recognising their dedication, innovation and excellence in engaging with the public.

Winners of the twelve regional awards will each receive a £500 prize. An overall national winner will also be chosen, and they will receive an additional £2,000.

Applications for this year's Marsh Awards have now closed. Prizes will be awarded at a ceremony at the British Museum on Monday 23 September 2024.

For further information, please contact [email protected].

Previous winners

In 2022, The Cambrian Heritage Railway volunteers from The Cambrian Heritage Railway Museum, Shropshire were the overall national winners. They received £500 as regional winners for the West Midlands, and an additional £2000 as overall winners.

Three men wearing suits standing on a staircase with a metal rail and white wall behind them. Two are holding certficates. — National Winner: The Cambrian Heritage Railway volunteers from The Cambrian Heritage Railway Museum.

In 2020, Rose Byers from Ellisland Museum and Farm, the rural home of Robert Burns from Scotland was the overall national winner. Rose received an award of an additional £2000. The award ceremony in 2020 took place online.

Rose Buyers standing in a woodland. — National Winner: Rose Byers from Ellisland Museum and Farm, the rural home of Robert Burns.

In 2019, Blot on the Landscape volunteers team from Temple Newsam House in Yorkshire were awarded the overall national winner. They received £2,000 in addition to the £500 that they, and each of the regional winners, were awarded. All winners received certificates which were presented at a ceremony at the British Museum.

Group of winners with certificate. — National Winner: Blot on the Landscape volunteers team from Temple Newsam House.

In 2017, the overall national prize was shared by two museums; these were Never Going Underground volunteers team at the People's History Museum in Manchester and the Scruton Station Heritage education volunteers at Wensleydale Railway Association Trust.

Group of winners with Sir Ian McKellen — Joint National Winner: Never Going Underground community curators.

Group of volunteers wearing period costume — Joint National Winner: Scruton Station Heritage education volunteers.

In 2014, the overall national prize was shared by two museums; these were the Herb Garden volunteers from Bede's World, Jarrow and the family learning volunteers from the Museum of London Archaeological Archives.

Families seated listening to volunteer — Joint National Winner: The family learning volunteers from the Museum of London Archaeological Archives.

Volunteers standing in herb garden — Joint National Winner: The Herb Garden volunteers from Bede's World, Jarrow.

In 2013, for the first time, there were two joint overall national winners – these were Nathan Lightowler from the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and Mrs Erene Grieve from the British Postal Museum and Archive in London.

The Marsh Charitable Trust also made a special posthumous award to British Museum volunteer Gordon Howes who passed away in March 2013. The award recognised his exceptional contribution to volunteering over a period of 17 years and was presented to his family.