Skip to content

Volunteer at the Birmingham Back to Backs

Visitors listening to the tour guide on the closed communal courtyard at Birmingham Back to Backs, West Midlands
Visitors listening to the tour guide on the closed communal courtyard at Birmingham Back to Backs | © National Trust Images/John Millar

The Birmingham Back to Backs are the last surviving example of their kind in the city centre. This small but mighty National Trust property shares the stories of 200 years of working people's lives. If you love social history, want to meet new people or are looking to build new skills, volunteering with us could be a great opportunity.

Join our team 

Do you love local history, Birmingham's heritage or meeting new people? Maybe you have a passion for teaching history or conserving historic houses and objects? Volunteering at the Birmingham Back to Backs could be a great start to your career or a new opportunity to change it. 

The National Trust offers a flexible and rewarding volunteering experience where you can share your knowledge or learn new skills, meet interesting people and help to shape our future plans. 

"I love volunteering at the Back to Backs, it gives me a chance to bring history to life and pass on the things I've learned."

- Ross, Tour guide volunteer 

Ways to volunteer at the Birmingham Back to Backs 

You can get involved in volunteering in many different ways, whatever suits your schedule and interests. We're currently actively recruiting for:

Follow the links to learn more about the roles and to apply. 

Volunteer recruitment open days 

If you're interested in learning more about any of the above roles, or just want to find out more about what volunteering at the Back to Backs is like, join us for one of our volunteer open days. 

  • Monday 22nd April, 10am – 13:00 pm at the Back to Backs. Drop in to the in person open day to meet the team and mangers who will be leading your volunteering experience at the Back to Backs. There will also be a chance to meet some of our current volunteers and have look around our historic property. Click here to register for your free place.
  • Tuesday 16th April- 18:00- 19:00 online, send us an email to backtobacks@nationaltrust.org.uk and register for your free place. 

  • Saturday 20th April – 15:00-16:00 online, send us an email to backtobacks@nationaltrust.org.uk and register for your free place. 

You'll be introduced to the team (including some of our lovely current volunteers) learn what we do here, and discover what it means to volunteer with us. 

Why volunteer for the National Trust Birmingham Back to Backs?

There are lots of reasons to join us, making the decision to volunteer could be the best decision you ever make.

  • Learn new skills or use existing ones
  • Strengthen your CV and develop your career 
  • Become part of a dedicated and friendly team 
  • Meet people from all walks of life and forge new friendships
  • Discover the history of the Back to Backs and Birmingham
The Courtyard of Court 15, Birmingham Back to Backs with a chair on the courtyard
Chair on the courtyard of Court 15 | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

What are the Back to Backs and why do they need volunteers?

The Birmingham Back to Backs are a museum of 200 years of working people's lives in the heart of Birmingham. The Grade II listed buildings are cared for by the National Trust, who look after nature, beauty and history for everyone to enjoy.

With our staff, members, volunteers and supporters, we are the biggest conservation charity in Europe. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference.​

Your support keeps nature and history flourishing. You help us care for:

  • More than 780 miles of coastline
  • More than 250,000 hectares of land
  • More than 500 historic houses, castles, parks, and gardens
  • Nearly a million works of art

By joining the team at the Birmingham Back to Backs as a volunteer, you'll be contributing to this mission and the preservation of a unique piece of the city's history. 

You might also be interested in

The interior of one of the Birmingham Back to Backs, showing books, photo and a candlestick on a shelf with coats hanging below and a historic print hanging alongside, on a wall covered with a floral print wallpaper.
Article
Article

The history of Birmingham Back to Backs 

Find out what life was like in back-to-back housing for the working classes of the 19th and 20th centuries and discover the people who brought the Back to Backs to life.