Get Involved
This is an exciting time for Kirkaldy’s Testing Works. The charity has a new lease of life and we are making serious plans to care for the space, celebrate the engineering heritage here and open our doors more often — so even more people can come inside and break something!
Want to find out more about how you can get involved with Kirkaldy’s – individually or as a company? We’d love to talk to you.
Material Difference A level students bring materials science and physics to life
Kirkaldy’s is an entirely volunteer-run charity, telling a world-changing story of engineering innovation that happened right here in Bankside. But whether you’re local to London or just happened to have crossed the Eads Bridge over the Mississippi (guess where the steel for that was tested) there are lots of ways to get involved.
Volunteer — join the team! Front of house or behind the scenes, working with schools and visitors discovering the story of Kirkaldy and the science behind his work, or helping out with our governance and strategy.
Support-in-kind — share your expertise, whether you’re fearless at fundraising, a scintillating science explainer or have skills we haven’t even heard of. We are currently looking for help with development and business planning help to make sure our plans are fully funded and securely on track.
Partnership — get involved for the longer ride, and build a meaningful partnership with us to help achieve our plans for the future.‘Testing Works Revealed’ is the project that will open up the Testing Works, make our facilities fit for purpose for schools, visitors and events, and at last bring Kirkaldy’s remarkable impact on engineering around the world, firmly into the spotlight. You can help make it happen.
“If, like us, you’re excited about the potential of Kirkaldy’s Testing Works, join our active trustee directors and other volunteers in this mission — to safeguard, celebrate and share this unique part of London’s engineering story.”
Sarah Jarvis, trustee director
Join this incredible effort
The survival of the Testing Works in Bankside is now inspiring the next generation of engineers, innovators and designers. We’re all volunteers. How will you help?
Make your contribution to putting Kirkaldy’s ingenuity and vision back in the spotlight
We are grateful to our partner organisations who help in many different ways
Armourers & Brasiers’ Company Association of Independent Museums Better Bankside Development Partners Dulwich College The Engineering Club Fabrix
There are many ways you can support Kirkaldy’s Testing Works and be a part of this incredible effort. Sponsorship, donations and booking an event or tour for your team, family or friends are just some of the ways you can support the Testing Works. If you have time you can share too, why not find out about becoming a volunteer or help shape our future direction as a trustee.
Volunteer
Do you love machines and engineering, or London's unique places that link directly to its past? Want to make the most of your knowledge and skills, or learn more?
Whether you are passionate about engineering, industrial heritage, social history or contemporary culture, we would love to hear from you. Getting dressed up in overalls is completely optional! Come along to an Open Day and speak to Jane, or email us!
Partner
Our corporate supporters are very important. As partners, you can help us deliver our mission to widen audiences and develop our education programmes — and encourage fresh thinking in our engineers and innovators of the future. If you want to get more involved with a local charity and support a unique place that embodies inventiveness and creativity then get in touch. Our Corporate partnership programme offers companies like yours exclusive benefits and a deeper relationship with Kirkaldy’s Testing Works. For information and to discuss more please email us.
Donate
Individual supporters can become a friend, a patron or leave Kirkaldy’s a gift in your will. To find out more about what we offer you in return for your help please get in touch.
Let’s link up!
Let us know how we can work together
David Kirkaldy’s work is honoured in the Engineering Hall of Fame and featured by ICE, the Institution of Civil Engineers
Kirkaldy’s Testing Works is pleased to be an Affiliate Organisation of The Engineering Club and a member of AIM, the Association of Independent Museums
We are proud to work in partnership with Community Southwark and with local schools including Dulwich College
Corporate volunteers
Whether you work directly in engineering or architecture, or simply want an extraordinary London venue, Kirkaldy’s Testing Works is a great place to bring your team together, and support an independent and very unusual charity.
We can customise your day, so if you want to get your hands dirty then maybe help us clean and present our workshop spaces, redecorate or simply wash the windows, or alternatively why not put your problem-solving powers to the test?
We can offer a mix of hands on tasks and challenges – after all, this is the Testing & Experimenting Works! You can even have an informal celebration afterwards in the main workshop itself and test your team’s new bonding with a Tailor-made Test – destruction-testing your own (suitable) samples on our 19th century Universal Testing Machine. See our Vimeo Channel then get in touch to find out more.
And if your team is still working from home why not get them together at the Testing Works for some virtual volunteering? For more information please email us
