: Gwirfoddoli

Amgueddfa Cymru hosts a range of socials and celebration events to recognise and celebrate our volunteers throughout the year. Every summer we organise celebrations event at Cardiff, Swansea, Drefach Felindre, and North Wales to celebrate Volunteers’ Week.  Volunteers’ Week is a UK celebration of all thing volunteers and happens every year between 1-7 of June. 

This year’s summer celebrations were unique!

We hosted our first ever street party outside our two iconic buildings, Oakdale Workmen’s Hall and The Vulcan Pub, at St Fagans. Over 60 volunteers across Cardiff attended to have vegan pizza with sides and an optional pint at The Vulcan. We also hosted our famous quiz, which this year seemed very fitting in The Vulcan. Craft Club Volunteers won this year’s quiz!

In North Wales due to the redevelopment work the National Slate Museum is currently closed, so volunteers choose to use this as an opportunity to visit the Museum on the Move and to attend a slate splitting demonstration by one of our demonstrating quarrymen who are currently based at Penrhyn Castle. The volunteers also enjoyed the opportunity to walk around the castle’s historic rooms, learning about the links between the castle and the slate industry. 

Volunteers at the GRAFT, National Waterfront Museum had a mosaic making session with an artist to create artwork with the prompt ‘what does the graft garden mean to me’. This was followed by pizza and an awards ceremony celebrating the best weeder, water wizard, etc. We ended the session with a drumming session from One Heart Drummers.

Instead of our usual lunch and craft activity, volunteers at the National Wool Museum had a day out to visit the British Wool Sorting Depot and local museum. We did say unique! 

This is our way of saying Diolch to our amazing volunteers, that last year (2024-2025) donated over 34,880 hours!  

“Volunteers are a highly valued part of our family here at Amgueddfa Cymru. Volunteers enrich and add value to the way we inspire learning and enjoyment for everyone through the national collection of Wales. They enable a much wider, and more diverse range of voices, experiences and perspectives to contribute to the delivery of that core purpose than we could ever achieve solely through the staff body.  I started my culture and heritage career with a volunteering placement many years ago. Volunteering changed my life, and it’s wonderful to see the wide range of ways in which volunteering changes lives in Amgueddfa Cymru.” Jane Richardson, Chief Executive, Amgueddfa Cymru.

Fancy getting involved? Get Involved | Museum Wales

Siôn Davies-Rollinson, Cydlynydd Ymgysylltu a Gwirfoddoli

Helo Siôn, dywed ychydig am dy hun a dy rôl gydag Amgueddfa Cymru.

Siôn ydw i; fe ymunais ag Amgueddfa Cymru yn 2012 fel rhan o’r tîm Blaen Tŷ yn Sain Ffagan. Ers tair blynedd, dwi wedi bod yn Gydlynydd Gwirfoddoli ac Ymgysylltu yn Sain Ffagan. Yn y swydd yma dwi’n cefnogi gwirfoddolwyr a grwpiau cymunedol i weithio gyda’r Amgueddfa ar draws ystod eang o rolau. Un o’r pethau gorau am fy swydd yw dod i nabod ein gwirfoddolwyr amrywiol, a dod i ddeall pam eu bod wedi dewis gwirfoddoli gydag Amgueddfa Cymru.

Yn ddiweddar dwi hefyd wedi dod yn Gydlynydd Gwirfoddoli ac Ymgysylltu yn Big Pit, er mwyn helpu i ddatblygu rhaglen wirfoddoli yno, sy’n gyffrous iawn!

Faint o wirfoddolwyr sydd yna ar draws y safleoedd, a beth maen nhw’n ei wneud?

Mae dros 850 o wirfoddolwyr ar draws Amgueddfa Cymru. Mae 8 o wahanol swyddi gwirfoddoli ar gael yn Sain Ffagan yn unig! Er enghraifft, mae gwirfoddolwyr yr ardd yn helpu i gynnal gerddi hanesyddol y Castell, a gwirfoddolwyr y project llyfrau yn casglu ac yn gwerthu llyfrau ail law i godi arian i’r Amgueddfa. Mae gwirfoddolwyr archwilio yn gofalu am y trolis yn yr orielau, gan roi cyfle i ymwelwyr drin a thrafod rhai o’r casgliadau. Efallai eich bod wedi gweld grwpiau mawr o wirfoddolwyr o’r gymuned yn helpu i baentio ffensys, torri gwrychoedd a gwyngalchu tai. Mae myfyrwyr o Goleg Caerdydd a’r Fro wedi bod yn ein helpu ers tair blynedd bellach.⁠ ⁠Mae’n wych gweld hyder y myfyrwyr yn datblygu trwy wirfoddoli, a rhoi cynnig ar bethau newydd.

Prosiect Llyfrau dan arweiniad gwirfoddolwyr yn Sain Ffagan

Rydyn ni wedi gweld hen hetiau glowyr o Big Pit yn cael eu defnyddio fel basgedi crog yn Sain Ffagan – roedden nhw’n wych. Oes projectau tebyg ar y gweill?

Roedd hetiau’r glowyr yn broject difyr, a’r gwirfoddolwyr wedi mwynhau cymryd rhan. Rhoddodd y blodau dipyn o liw i’n Hwb Gwirfoddoli. Rydyn ni wastad yn chwilio am ffyrdd newydd i hybu cynaliadwyedd, ac ailgylchu deunyddiau.

Yn ddiweddar bu gwirfoddolwyr yn plannu dros 2,000 o fylbiau eirlysiau a chlychau’r gog yn Sain Ffagan. Pan ddaw’r gwanwyn bydd yna lwybr o flodau hyfryd yn ymestyn o Lys Llywelyn i Fryn Eryr. Bydd hyn yn cefnogi gwenyn a pheillwyr eraill, sy’n dibynnu ar flodau cynnar i gael paill a neithdar ar adeg o’r flwyddyn pan fydd blodau’n brin. Cam bach, ond un pwysig iawn i fioamrywiaeth yr ardal.

Beth yw eich hoff broject hyd yn hyn?

Gardd wedi'i hysbrydoli gan y Celtiaid y tu allan i Fryn Eryr, Sain Ffagan

⁠Fy hoff broject i hyd yma yw gardd y gwirfoddolwyr yn Bryn Eryr, Sain Ffagan. Daethom â grŵp o wirfoddolwyr at ei gilydd i greu a chynnal gardd Geltaidd fel rhan o dai crwn Bryn Eryr. Mae pedwar gwely i’r ardd, yn tyfu cymysgedd o bys, ffa a phannas, gwahanol berlysiau, ac un gwely ar gyfer planhigion sy’n rhoi lliw. Rydyn ni wedi plannu hadau llin yn ddiweddar, ac yn edrych ymlaen at weld beth ddaw ohonyn nhw.

Dwi’n hoffi bod y project yn cael ei arwain gan wirfoddolwyr ar y cyfan, ac yn rhoi cyfle iddyn nhw wneud penderfyniadau ar sut i ddatblygu’r ardd. Rydyn ni’n gobeithio clirio ardal fach yn yr ardd i blannu coed afalau surion y flwyddyn nesaf.

Gardd Bryn Eryr, Sain Ffagan

Sut all pobl wirfoddoli gydag Amgueddfa Cymru?

Mae llawer o ffyrdd i wirfoddoli gydag Amgueddfa Cymru. Y ffordd hawsaf i ddod o hyd i gyfleoedd gwirfoddoli yw ar ein gwefan. Rydyn ni’n hysbysebu ein holl rolau gwirfoddoli ar-lein; gweler fan hyn.

Gall pobl hefyd gofrestru ar ein rhestr e-bost i glywed am gyfleoedd newydd. Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau, gallwch gysylltu â’r tîm gwirfoddoli ar: gwirfoddoli@amgueddfacymru.ac.uk.

A’r un cwestiwn ydyn ni’n ofyn i bawb – beth yw eich hoff ddarn yn y casgliadau?

Rhyd y Car, Sain Ffagan

Cwestiwn anodd! ⁠Dwi wedi treulio llawer o amser yn gweithio yn adeiladau hanesyddol Sain Ffagan, ac mae gan bob un ei stori a’i awyrgylch unigryw. Os oes rhaid dewis un – tai teras Rhyd-y-car. Dwi’n hoff iawn o’r ffaith fod y tai yn llinell amser sy’n dangos newidiadau’r blynyddoedd yn yr ystafelloedd a’r gerddi. Ac mae ymwelwyr wrth eu bodd yn teithio trwy amser wrth ymweld â’r tai. Mae teimlad y tai a’r gerddi yn newid gyda’r tymhorau hefyd, felly mae wastad rhywbeth newydd i sylwi arno.

Ym mis Mehefin 2023 cychwynnodd Amgueddfa Lechi Cymru rôl wirfoddoli crefftau er mwyn creu 6 mat rhacs ar gyfer ein rhaglen addysg. Wnaethon ni recriwtio 6 o wirfoddolwyr, ac oedd Isabel de Silva yn rhan o’r grŵp. Dechreuodd wirfoddoli tra'r oedd hi'n gorffen ei gradd meistr ym Mhrifysgol Bangor, a’i rheswm dros wirfoddoli oedd er mwyn ennill profiad ar gyfer swydd neu yrfa. 

Yn o gystal a chreu matiau rhacs, bu rhaid i Isabel a’r gwirfoddolwyr ymgysylltu ag ymwelwyr yn Nhŷ’r Prif Beiriannydd er mwyn egluro sut oedd creu matiau rhacs a thrafod hanes y draddodiad. Pan ddechreuodd Isabel wirfoddoli, roedd hi’n eithaf swil ac yn ddihyder. I weithio ar hyn ymhellach, gwirfoddolodd Isabel i'n helpu ni adeg y Nadolig gyda gweithdai gwneud torchau rhacs hefyd – roedd yn amgylchedd prysur a bywiog! Tyfodd ei hyder wrth iddi siarad â mwy a mwy o ymwelwyr a delio â'r llu o gwestiynau am y matiau rhacs gan ymwelwyr brwdfrydig. 

“Nath gwirfoddoli hefo'r Amgueddfa Llechi helpu fi i godi fy hyder, gwella fy sgiliau cyfathrebu a dysgu sgil ymarferol newydd.” - Isabel de Silva

Ar ôl iddi raddio a chwblhau ei gradd meistr ac ers magu hyder a datblygu sgiliau gwaith, mae Isabel bellach wedi cael swydd gyda Gwasanaeth Llyfrgelloedd Gwynedd a gyda Storiel, amgueddfa ac oriel Gwynedd. Mi orffennodd Isabel mat rhacs bendigedig ar ei phen ei hun erbyn Gorffennaf 2024… cymerodd blwyddyn o wirfoddoli unwaith yr wythnos! 

"Drwy fy ngwirfoddoli nes i ddysgu gymaint amdan hanes yr ardal leol, ac effaith y chwarel ar fywydau pobol Gogledd Cymru heddiw. Nath y wybodaeth hynny ysbrydoli fi i neud fy rhan mewn cadw a rhannu hanes Cymru, a dwi wedi cael y cyfle i neud hynny drwy fy swydd yn Storiel." - Isabel de Silva

I am a history MA student, and since April 2024 I have been a volunteer for the museums second-hand book sale. 

A typical session volunteering includes categorising and pricing donated books stored in the volunteer hub. Once we have chosen which books to keep (which is most of them) we place and organise them at the front of the museum. You can choose how long you want to volunteer for and if you want to be alone or work with someone else. Sometimes there are a lot of books to sort and sometimes all you need to do is put out more on the shelves to sell.

I started volunteering because I took a year off university in between my undergrad and postgrad, and I wanted to do something that would give me an insight into how the heritage sector worked. I find organising and arranging the books calming and the staff and volunteers are always really friendly! 

Maia – Book Sale Volunteer

In March 2024, I became part of a team of volunteers at National Museum Cardiff, our objective to setup and maintain a second-hand bookstall in the main hall of the museum.  

I have a background in education, community arts, and creative writing. When the opportunity to volunteer as bookseller with National Museum Cardiff came about, I eagerly applied and was over the moon to have been invited to join. Being involved in the running of the second-hand bookstall resonates with my, and the museum’s, commitment to making education accessible. At the stall, we always have a host of history, science, and arts books available for children and adults. The bookstall also promotes an ease of access to a wide variety of fiction books, which thrills the creative writer in me. 

Whenever I go into the museum, I am warmed by how interested everyone is in the bookstall. I often chat with visitors about their unique finds, or how excited they are to get stuck into a new book, as well as talking about the museum and its exhibits. Members of staff at the museum are always taking an interest too, and I’ve gotten to know some members of the front of house team well. It is always nice hearing about their book finds, or updates about the money the stall has raised, or to catch up and chat about how our weeks have been going.  

We stock the bookstall with second-hand books donated to us by members of museum staff, and members of the public via donations to St Fagans National Museum of History, at which they have their own successful second-hand bookstall. I go into the museum once a week to sort through these donated books, in addition to tidying up and restocking the bookstall. Sorting books sees me sort books by genre, and alphabetise the fiction, as well as to make sure that books are marked with a suggested donation. Green =50p, Blue =£1, Yellow =£2, and our red stickers mark custom prices, usually to highlight rare editions, or bundles.

Sorting through the books is a great joy, we never know what is going to come in, and there are always fascinating gems to be found. I’ll set myself up in the volunteer hub, usually with an audiobook or some music and make my way through the book piles. Some of my favourite donations have been the unique specialist books donated by museum staff, books that you simply wouldn’t find in your average bookshop. But the fact is, I never know what is going to turn up. Several finds which have stood out to me, and highlight the diversity of books that come in, include: the score to Westside Story, a guide to scuba diving, a book of Mastermind questions, and an omnibus of Alien vs Predator novels! Just goes to show that it’s always worth popping in to see what’s there.  

Being a part of the bookstall has been greatly rewarding, I’ve gotten to know lots of museum volunteers and staff alike, and my relationship with the museum has provided me with opportunities to attend unique talks and events for volunteers, such as our tour of National Roman Legion Museum, back in November ‘24. Notably, I am proud of the money that the bookstall has raised for the museum, £4300.88 at the most recent count up by staff!

The second-hand bookstall is made up of four bookcases which can be found in the main hall of National Museum Cardiff. Books can be purchased by making a donation at the card reader, or by dropping some cash into the collection box beside the shelves.   

Daniel Skentelbery – Book Sale Volunteer