The Stockton and Darlington Railway 26 Miles Railway project is made possible with funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. Running from January 2024 to December 2027, the project works with 3 local museums - Hopetown Darlington, Preston Park Museum and Grounds in Stockton and Locomotion in Shildon to engage with local communities, schools and visitors to promote the 200 years of history of the railways and the legacy that is within the North East Region.
2025 saw the 200th Bi-Centenary Celebrations of the World's First Passenger Railway Journey. Without that journey the industrial revolution may not have taken place, the development of many technologies that stem from steam and our ability to undertake global travel today.
Through heritage and community passed activities we aim to keep the legacy going for the next 2 years alongside our museum partners to tell the stories of the railways, the developments in technology and the people that made it happen.
Thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund all our activities are free, so supporting the local museums in their outreach aims and supporting many organisations with their events, engaging children and their families and supporting local school lessons. We have supported the Great North Air Ambulance, Red Balloons, Family Action Stockton, Elmtree and Fairfield Women's Institute, YMCA Darlington, Stockton and Darlington Libraries, Adoption Tees Valley, Cockerton 8th Scouts and Middlesbrough 27th Squirrels Group and many primary schools along the 26 mile historic route.
We are looking for friendly and ethusiatic people, who have a willingness to learn and to jump in with activities. No training or experience is necessary as we are here to help you develop new skills, build upon your own experiences and boost your confidence.
Activities include
* supporting events at Hopetown Darlington, Preston Park Museum Stockton or Locomotion Shildon - plus in different venues in Stockton, Darlington and Shildon
- this can be setting up and packing down materials and equipment and stewarding new and exciting exhibitions
- chatting to the public and their families encouraging them to have a go with our family craft activities, jot down their railway related memories, and point out our history info boards
- help point out the history of the museum sites by choosing your favourite objects and leaving reviews
- assisting in data collecting with our memory collecting postcards projects
- reading a railway inspired fiction book and leaving us a review
- helping in the new Hopetown Station Garden, battling weeds, planting new flowers and helping in some nature based small habits
Opportunities to get more indepth work placement experience within Hopetown in the collections, learning and marketing team (possibly at Preston Park as well).
We also have a Young Producers Group who work to create exhibitions and social media posts, based at Hopetown Darlington. Open from 16-24 year olds.
We act as a community and heritage bridge between organisations and teaming up with volunteers to make positive family and educational memories
We are open to one day, term time or regular volunteering opportunities
We can cover rail tickets and bus fares to assist student volunteering.
Refreshments provided at each session. Volunteering sessions over 4 hours are provided with a lunch offer
Our Opportunities
Review our Partner Museums or highlight objects and exhibitions to promote on S&DR26 miles social media channels - which may also be picked up by the museums themselves. No training given, flexible role, done individually or in small groups