After almost two years behind closed doors, a long-running Leeds visitor attraction is getting ready to greet the public again.

The Thackray Museum of Medicine has been closed not just for lockdown, but also for an extensive refurbishment. All of its health-focused galleries have been rejuvenated, and the stunning Victorian building itself has been made more accessible for everyone. Now the museum is recruiting friendly and lively ‘Visitor Experience Volunteers’ to help share its stories safely and bring its amazing heritage to life.

Since last summer, builders, designers and members of the Thackray team have all been back onsite, working in line with lockdown and safety measures. When it’s safe to reopen, you’ll find many of the museum’s most famous attractions have been restored, alongside some new exhibits and experiences. These include an authentic recreation of a 19th Century operating theatre, a sexual health clinic with a retro 1970s twist, and many other features exploring how humans respond to crisis, sparking debate about the medical innovations that have changed the world.

As well as all of this, NHS staff have been using the building during lockdown to run COVID-19 vaccine trials and administer vaccinations to members of the public… The museum has gone from archiving medical history to making it!

Now all it needs is some caring, passionate people to help give visitors a fun and informative experience once lockdown restrictions for museums have been lifted on 17 May 2021. The doors of the Thackray Museum may be reopening to a strange and different world but, with some enthusiastic and imaginative new volunteers, it can also be an exciting one.

Interested in volunteering? Apply here or contact Ross, the Volunteer Coordinator: ross.horsley@thackraymuseum.org

Thackray Museum of Medicine