VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

The Matthew of Bristol is largely maintained and run by a dedicated crew of volunteers, and we’re always on the lookout for physically fit guides and crew to join us on board!

Sailing experience is not necessary – we’re looking for people who can spare us a day (or more!) of their time each week, are willing to ‘learn the ropes’, and enjoy talking to the general public.

ABOUT THE MATTHEW

The Matthew of Bristol is a fully working reconstruction medieval ship based in Bristol’s historic Harbourside. The ship was built in Bristol between 1994-1996 to mark the 500th anniversary of John Cabot’s famous 1497 voyage from Bristol to Newfoundland, In 1997, the ship and its crew re-enacted this epic voyage.

Today, The Matthew is a much-loved part of Bristol’s maritime heritage, owned by registered charity The Matthew of Bristol Trust. With a busy schedule of public boat trips, film and festival work, corporate and celebratory events, all profits generated from our public and private trips are used to maintain the ship and its legacy.

Our VOLUNTEERs

As part of The Matthew crew, no two days are the same for our volunteers! A typical day may include:

• Guides: Greeting our visitors on arrival at The Matthew, providing health & safety information, answering questions about the ship and its history, and inviting visitors to explore the areas of the ship that are open to the general public.

• Crew: If willing and able, you’ll be trained in ropework, mooring and unmooring, and emergency equipment use.

• We run sessions for school on weekday mornings, so you might be taking a group of children and their teachers on a morning trip around the harbour, talking about pirates or life on board for sailors during Tudor times.

• We have a schedule of public and private trips during our April–October sailing season, so you’ll be greeting passengers as they board, serving drinks from our onboard bar, answering questions, and enjoying a trip around the harbour or perhaps along the Avon Gorge.

• We don’t sail over the winter (November–March), but we are open to visitors at weekends, so we are in need of guides on Saturdays and Sundays. Winter is also the time for annual maintenance, so if you have skills in painting, carpentry, etc., we’d love to hear from you!

No experience is necessary as full training will be given in all aspects of guiding and crewing. All guides and crew are trained in personal and passenger safety.

Photo credit - Izabela Probert

The Matthew & crew celebrating 25 years in May 2022. Would you like to be a part of our next 25 years?

LOCATION AND HOURS

The Matthew of Bristol is based mainly in Bristol Harbour. We take passengers out on public and private trips around Floating Harbour, and also down the Avon to Pill. When not out on a trip, the ship is open to visitors from Tuesday–Sunday between 10am and 4pm during the summer and on weekends from 10am to 4pm in the winter.

Days on duty will be arranged by mutual agreement.

ABOUT YOU

• You are available for at least one day per week, especially during our busy summer season between April and October. We’re also looking for people with some weekend and/or early evening availability.

• You are physically fit. You will need to be able to move around the ship and be on your feet for periods of time.

• You enjoy talking to people and have a willingness to learn about and share Bristol’s maritime history with visitors to The Matthew.

• Experience – you do not need any sailing experience to be a volunteer on The Matthew! Full training will be given to successful applicants.