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Lost & Found Trainees

We are looking to recruit 8 trainees to take part in a new heritage project: Lost & Found: Untold maritime histories of Greenwich and Deptford revealed through a mudlark’s finds.

Each trainee will be paid London Living Wage for a total of 17 days over a 7-week period this summer. You will work with Thames mudlark Nicola White, using her finds to discover, interpret and share maritime histories of Greenwich and Deptford. You will benefit from a tailored programme of learning and skills development including guided visits to the Cutty Sark, London Museum Docklands, Deptford Creek and the Thames foreshore. You will receive training in archival research at the London Archives and Lewisham Heritage, and exhibition curation and copywriting at the National Maritime Museum. You will work with a professional designer to develop a pop-up exhibition that will tour across London as part of Totally Thames 2025. You will access mentoring sessions by heritage professionals from Royal Museums Greenwich, Museum of London Archaeology and the London Archives to help guide your progress into further employment.

This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to develop a career in the heritage, museums or wider arts & cultural sector. No previous experience is required. We particularly encourage applications from people aged 18-25 living or studying in the London Boroughs of Greenwich or Lewisham, but the opportunity is open to anyone.

Lost & Found 

Untold maritime histories of Greenwich and Deptford revealed through a mudlark’s finds

A Thames Festival Trust project made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Greenwich and Deptford are areas rich in shipbuilding and other maritime heritage, as well as archaeology, natural ecology and local history. But the stories of everyday life, and particularly the experiences of those connected with maritime industries, are largely submerged within written records.

In Lost & Found, a diverse group of heritage trainees will reveal these untold histories using objects found by mudlark Nicola White: from fragments of crockery and handmade gaming tokens to a Nkisi Nkondi power figure and a button from the Woolwich Workhouse. Mudlarking is the practice of retrieving objects which were lost or discarded into the Thames; these intriguing, complex and meaningful finds will provide the heritage trainees with opportunities to research people, places and activities which are not usually recorded in written history. In doing so, this exciting new heritage project seeks to reflect the historical diversity of Greenwich and Deptford as told by young people who are representative of local riverside communities today.

As part of this project, we will:

• Run a traineeship programme focusing on research and curation skills.
• Interpret the maritime histories of Greenwich and Deptford via a pop-up exhibition.
• Commission photographs of mudlarked objects by artist Hannah Smiles.
• Share trainees’ research in a limited-edition book and a series of short films for YouTube by mudlark Nicola White.
• Deliver a programme of in-person events and guided walks as part of Totally Thames 2025.
• Work closely with public archives.
• House all our project outputs on a freely accessible website.

Thames Festival Trust is an arts organisation which delivers festivals, stand-alone commissions, river-based events, heritage projects and education programmes. We have a 27-year track record of using learning, culture and creativity to amaze, excite and inform. Our work helps bring communities together, originally around the River Thames, and now in cities across the UK and the world. The Trust is committed to producing excellent work and we strive to improve access and increase diversity across the Arts & Culture sector.

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Lost & Found is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to reveal untold maritime histories of Greenwich and Deptford.

Job Description

Duties & Responsibilities  

• Attend project induction sessions, training sessions and archive/museum visits at locations across Central, East, and South East London. The main project base is Creekside Discovery Centre, Deptford.
• Undertake research and collate information to uncover and explain stories related to maritime history of Greenwich and Deptford.
• Take part in a session with a professional designer and contribute to the curation and development of a pop-up exhibition telling our heritage subject.
• Work at different times alongside a project manager, archive staff, mudlarks, artists and academic researchers.

Provisional Programme Timeline

• Monday 28 May – Creekside Discovery Centre. Trainee induction day.
• Thursday 29 May – Creekside Discovery Centre. Presentation on natural heritage including guided walk on foreshore of Deptford Creek.
• Monday 2 June – Creekside Discovery Centre. Guided walk on Thames foreshore followed by workshop on natural ecology of the Thames.
• Tuesday 3 June – Creekside Discovery Centre. Visit to local heritage venue followed by walking tour.
• Monday 9 June – Creekside Discovery Centre. Working on exhibition interpretation panels. Individual research time.
• Tuesday 10 June – Creekside Discovery Centre. Visit to local heritage venue followed by presentation.
• Monday 16 June – Visit to heritage exhibition followed by presentation.
• Tuesday 17 June – Visit to archive. Individual research time.
• Monday 23 June – Visit to local heritage venue followed by exhibition curating training.
• Tuesday 24 June – Creekside Discovery Centre. Project review session and individual research time.
• Monday 30 June – Visit to archive, including workshop on researching online archives.
• Tuesday 1 July – Visit to archive including training session on exhibition curating, followed by individual research time.
• Monday 7 July – Visit to archive, including presentation and discussion on maritime history, followed by individual research and writing time.
• Tuesday 8 July – Creekside Discovery Centre. Training session on exhibition text writing.
• Wednesday 9 July – Creekside Discovery Centre. Online research and exhibition text writing, followed by group discussion.

* In addition, each trainee will be expected to complete two days’ independent research at their own discretion. 

Person Specification

Desired Skills & Interests

• An interest in the history of maritime London and/or the London Boroughs of Greenwich or Lewisham.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Interest in a career in heritage, archives, museums, or wider arts & cultural sector.
• Willingness to commit to multiple training sessions.
• Practical and proactive in attitude.

How To Apply

To apply, please send a cover letter explaining your interest in the role, what you feel you will bring to the project and how you feel the traineeship will benefit you to the email below. Please also indicate if you live or study in the London Boroughs of Greenwich or Lewisham.

• Download full job description.
• Please fill our the equal opportunities form.
• Email the above information to Tom Chivers at the link below.
• Monday 5 May – Deadline for applications.
• Thursday 8 May – Successful applicants will be informed of interview.
• Monday 12/Tuesday 13 May – Interviews will take place on Zoom.
• Wednesday 14 May – Successful interviewees will be notified.

Terms of Contract

• Fixed term: 28 May 2025 – 9 July 2025.
• Part-time role: 2 days a week for 6 weeks / 3 days a week for final week. Usually Monday and Tuesday. In addition, 2 days’ independent research to be completed at trainees’ discretion.
• Salary/Fee: £13.85 per hour (£1,648.15 across 7 weeks).
• You will be employed as a freelancer and will be responsible for your own taxes and national insurance. You will invoice once per week or month for your wages which are paid in arrears.