How St Peter’s School, York, Used Volunteers to Save Time, Manage Costs, and Build a Successful Digital Archive

Building a digital archive is often seen as a long-term, resource-heavy project. But what if the key to making affordable real progress was already out there? Studying history, culture, or heritage, and looking for meaningful, real-world experience?

At SocialArchive, we regularly see schools and institutions transform their archival projects by welcoming volunteers into the process. One brilliant example is St Peter’s School, who found the perfect fit in a university student with a passion for social history, and in doing so, built a self-sustaining model that’s both cost-effective and future-proof.

Here’s how you can do the same, and why volunteers might just be the missing link in your archive journey. 

Why Use Volunteers on Your Digital Archive?

Volunteers bring enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and in many cases, specialised skills. When paired with the right digital tools, they can take the pressure off stretched internal teams and move projects forward faster than you might expect.

At St Peter’s, the decision to bring in a volunteer wasn’t just about budget, it was about potential. The school found a student studying social history from the University of York, someone who immediately understood the value of a living, evolving archive and had the research and digital know-how to bring it to life.

And yes, one of the biggest benefits? It came at no cost.

Finding the Right Fit: Tap Into the Right Networks

The St Peter’s team found their volunteer through Handshake, a platform that connects university students with volunteering and work opportunities. Platforms like this are a brilliant resource if you're open to welcoming students into your projects.

Other potential routes:

• University career services and volunteering boards

• Local heritage or archival studies courses

• Alumni networks

• LinkedIn volunteering listings

Be specific in what you’re looking for, whether it’s help with digital categorisation, or social media support for sharing archive stories, a clear role description will help the right person say “yes.” 

What You Need to Invest (Spoiler: Not Much)

Managing a volunteer takes some initial setup. At St Peter’s, there was a time investment in onboarding and training, but it paid off quickly.

This kind of model, where each volunteer helps train the next, is a powerful way to future-proof your archive. With just a small amount of oversight, schools can maintain momentum and continuity.

Consider creating:

• A simple volunteer handbook or training video

• A list of tasks that can be completed independently

• Regular check-ins to keep communication open

Match Skills to Archive Needs

Digital archives need more than scanning. Think tagging, metadata input, and storytelling. And increasingly, these tasks align beautifully with university students’ coursework.

SocialArchive’s tools allow volunteers to:

• Upload, tag, and categorise digital files

• Publish galleries relating to specific themes, events, or cohorts.

• Create video compilations from old photos

• Capture alumni memories or personal histories

• Create engaging stories or blog posts from archive materials

The volunteer at St Peter’s didn’t just maintain the archive, she helped develop it. Her studies in social history meant she understood the broader context of school events, uniforms, and traditions, and brought fresh perspectives to the table.

What to Expect When Recruiting

Don’t be surprised if your role listing attracts a flood of interest. St Peter’s received 11 applications through Handshake, a reminder of how much demand there is among students for meaningful, CV-building roles.

You’ll need to:

• Be prepared to sift applications carefully

• Look beyond the course titles, think about attitude, initiative, and passion

• Choose someone who will be a good fit for your school community and archive goals

Go Beyond the Digital: Paper & Preservation Help, Too

While the focus at St Peter’s has been on digital archiving, the school also benefits from volunteers who help with paper records and physical artefacts. If you’re fortunate enough to have community volunteers willing to help with preservation tasks, combining that with a digitally-savvy volunteer can create the perfect balance.

Don’t Let Time Be the Barrier

Too often, schools assume they don’t have time to manage an archive project. But as St Peter’s has shown, the right volunteer, equipped with SocialArchive and a little onboarding, can move things forward faster than you imagined.

Whether you're preserving history, engaging alumni, or building a resource for future generations, bringing in the right help can make all the difference.

Watch the full story from St Peter’s School:

We know that every school archive tells a unique story, but we also know how often these stories stay locked away due to lack of time and resources. With the right volunteers, that doesn’t have to be the case.

By recruiting motivated, capable people, your school can build a future-facing digital archive, cost-effectively and creatively. Just like St Peter’s, you might be surprised by how much value your volunteer adds to your project.

Ready to get started with your archive?

Whether you’ve got a dusty box of photos or a growing folder of digital files, SocialArchive can help you turn it into something meaningful, and sustainable. Ask us how we can support your volunteers and help you build a legacy that lasts.