The New Year brings an exciting opportunity to get hands‑on with one of Northamptonshire’s most fascinating heritage collections.

The Northamptonshire Film Archive Trust has now settled into its new home at The Chester House Estate, giving us the space to welcome volunteers directly into the heart of our working archive. We’re also delighted to be working closely with Discover Northamptonshire to help more people explore and celebrate the county’s rich and varied heritage.

Starting from January 29 and then throughout the year, we’ll be running two‑hour volunteer sessions on the last Thursday of each month. These sessions offer a rare chance to help maintain historic film equipment, catalogue original footage, and support the essential behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps Northamptonshire’s moving‑image history alive. For those looking to build skills or gain formal recognition, we can also arrange a tailored course leading to certification for education or employment purposes.

Volunteer sessions run from 10:30am to 13:30pm and must be booked in advance by emailing tnfat@outlook.com.

Our unit is also open to the public most Tuesdays and Thursdays—perfect for dropping in, meeting the team, and exploring what is believed to be the largest display of home‑movie equipment in England.

A brilliant way to start the year, get involved, and help preserve the county’s film heritage for future generations.