Volunteer Archivist
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I learned how to precisely catalogue the records of the county of Ceredigion that was a valuable experience for my desired future as an archivist. My role consisted of organising collections of photographs, letters, postcards, certificates, maps, and In Memoriam cards from 1877 to 1931. I became particularly interested in the design of funeral records due to the hand-embossed lettering and images of angels, allowing me to interact with the local history of my university town.
Volunteering enhanced my connection to Aberystwyth as a student by researching the lives of Ceredigion locals, which I advanced by using online search engines for exploring ancestry. I catalogued a wide range of records by stating the date, extent, and learning the importance of reference numbers for an organised collection. I also labelled new document boxes of archives that were left by the public and ensured that they were stored correctly by accession code.
I became dedicated to a methodical storage system for the archives, as requests made by the public could be retrieved efficiently. The staff stressed the importance of concise cataloguing that assists users of the digital catalogue that reached a wide network of researchers. Popular interests involved maps of Ceredigion, previously named Cardiganshire, exposing me to the unique individual interests of records.
Teamwork was also crucial for this role as the archive frequently held talks across the county to promote the necessity of GLAM careers.
Volunteer Archivist - Ceredigion Archives - Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
(2025-09 - 2026-07)
I learned how to precisely catalogue the records of the county of Ceredigion that was a valuable experience for my desired future as an archivist. My role consisted of organising collections of photographs, letters, postcards, certificates, maps, and In Memoriam cards from 1877 to 1931. I became particularly interested in the design of funeral records due to the hand-embossed lettering and images of angels, allowing me to interact with the local history of my university town.
Volunteering enhanced my connection to Aberystwyth as a student by researching the lives of Ceredigion locals, which I advanced by using online search engines for exploring ancestry. I catalogued a wide range of records by stating the date, extent, and learning the importance of reference numbers for an organised collection. I also labelled new document boxes of archives that were left by the public and ensured that they were stored correctly by accession code.
I became dedicated to a methodical storage system for the archives, as requests made by the public could be retrieved efficiently. The staff stressed the importance of concise cataloguing that assists users of the digital catalogue that reached a wide n
Book Shop Volunteer - Alsager Book Emporium - Alsager, Cheshire
(2022-05 - 2025-05)
Volunteering at Alsager bookshop deepened my love of books as a college student and influenced me to enter the archival sector as a university graduate. I gained valuable skills from managing a stock of over 60,000 second-hand books, such as the organisation of novels alphabetically and by genre, in addition to searching for the requested titles by customers. I greatly enjoyed interacting with the public during my three years as a volunteer, as I could contribute to my community and learn about diverse literary interests.
Emporium is a charity-run establishment that collects donations for Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum, allowing me to support the preservation of my local area's history. I was given the responsibility of researching donated Folio novels to determine their value, which also motivated my future commitment to the study of special collections. I enjoyed working alongside other volunteers who shared an equal passion for books, encouraging me to pursue a career dedicated to record-keeping.
Team Member - Asda - Sandbach, Cheshire
(2024-01 - 2025-01)
After my time at Co-op, the petrol station was taken over by Asda. My role was very similar, but I continued to thrive in the fast-paced environment, as the store was next to a motorway. I enjoyed being a contributing member of a team, working closely with colleagues and managers to ensure the store ran as efficiently as possible.
Once new employees were hired, I was given the responsibility of training them as cashiers, which improved my leadership skills significantly. Towards the end of the shift, the importance of presentation was crucial, making sure the shelves remained tidy and organised by sell-by date, as well as closing the store with confidence. Presentation and hygiene were crucial, sanitising the bakery at the end of the day, and ensuring that the general cleanliness remained at a high standard.
Team Member - Co-op - Sandbach, Cheshire
(2023-08 - 2024-01)
This was my first experience in retail, but it was extremely beneficial. As this store was both for produce and a petrol station, I learnt how to work in a busy, fast-paced environment. I spent the majority of my shifts on the tills, improving my management of cash and card payments, how to allow customers to purchase lottery tickets, as well as learning the legal requirements of purchasing Challenge 25 products.
This also allowed me to encounter Test Purchasing checks regularly. I developed my organisational skills by the importance of keeping track of stock, using scanners to update the out-of-stock produce. This role gave me direct contact with customers, encountering problems to tackle, such as issues with discount codes, general complaints, whilst improving my communication skills greatly.
Waitress - Nantwich Bookshop & Coffee Lounge - Nantwich, Cheshire
(2021-07 - 2022-05)
After a week of work experience, I was asked to stay on as a waitress. This role involved taking orders and serving to allocated tables. I placed such orders on café iPads, allowing me to gain experience with technology and how to send food receipts to the kitchen and baristas.
This role improved my confidence in interacting with customers and making sure they were satisfied with their meals and service. I also added books to the shelves and organised stock by genre, particularly young adult, travel, and poetry. This was my first encounter with book categorising and alphabetising stock, allowing me to gain knowledge on how a business is organised, as well as contributing to my love of literature as a student.
Summer Bachelor's Degree Program - Digital Archives and Methods - Aarhus University (2026-07)
Bachelor of Arts - History and English Literature - University of Aberystwyth (2026)
A-Levels - English Literature, History, and Classical Civilisation - Cheshire College South and West (2023)
GCSEs - Sandbach High School (2021)
