Third International Conference on Tourism & Leisure Studies

Abstract

This paper will discuss emergent findings from my current PhD study of volunteering within heritage railway societies in North Wales. The study explores the motivations and experiences of volunteers. Thus far data collection has included seventy-four qualitative interviews. Key emerging themes are discussed based on initial framework analysis of the data: how understandings of the role is shaped by work and gender identities; the role of family background; and relations with local communities. North Wales has a distinctive industrial heritage, which has shaped much of the environment and landscape we see today. Heritage volunteers are a particularly under-researched group in terms of civil society, whilst previous literature has focused upon for example, organisations such as the National Trust, there remains a substantial gap with regard to preserved railways, despite its popularity increasing across Europe and beyond. The research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of the WISERD Civil Society Research Centre.