On Wed 21 Nov the Black Country Studies Centre launched. This new education partnership between the University of Wolverhampton and the Museum will provide new learning opportunities for communities across the Black Country. The partnerships’s aim is to deliver learning outcomes that will help local people to develop their employability skills, raise aspirations and encourage community cohesion.
The Centre will offer guest talks, taster courses, student placements and research projects to create unique learning opportunities for the region and which build on the history of the Black Country.
Commenting on BCSC, Andrew Lovett said, “The Black Country Studies Centre has been created to formalise our current relationship with the University. Together and through a programme of inspirational activities we will continue to explore the history of the area and how that history informs our understanding of ourselves and our communities.”
Click here to find out more about Black Country Studies Centre.
Wednesday’s launch evening also included Snidge Scrumpin’ – an experiment to map smell and memory in the Black Country. Run by the University of Wolverhampton as part of the Being Human Festival 2018, the experiment exposed participants to a range of different smells and asked them about the memories and places they triggered. The results will be published in January and we hope they can input into the Museum’s interpretation plan for our 1940s-1960s town as part of Forging Ahead.
National Museum Director’s Council (NMDC) has updated the details of their reciprocal free admission scheme, available for all staff at member institutions.
For a list of sites included in the scheme please click NOV 18 – NMDC Reciprocal Free Admission Arrangements
Anyone that is interested in the scheme will need a headed letter from HR in order to be granted free admission. Requests should be made via email: [email protected]
In the early hours of Friday 16 November, many buildings within the Museum were unfortunately vandalised.
Whilst this is a truly frustrating incident, I am grateful to every member of staff who pitched in to clear up the mess, fix the damage and have the Museum open to visitors as usual by 10am. This was a wonderful team effort and I would like to thank everyone involved!
We are planning to film a short video on Sun 25 Nov to raise money for BCLM: Forging Ahead as part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge.
The Big Give Christmas Challenge is a national fundraising campaign in which we have taken part previously to raise money for Racecourse Colliery. The Big Give is a great campaign as it enables us to potentially double any donations made that week with match-funding.
As the 1940s features prominently as part of our Forging Ahead story, we’d like to film 3 children between the ages of 5-12 years old tasting wartime food and capture their reactions. The video will be used throughout the week of the Big Give campaign to prompt people for donations.
How can you help?
If anybody is interested in having a go at preparing some wartime food we can use in the video, we would really appreciate the help! The Collections team have donated some recipes that we can share with you – apparently potato chocolate spread is a must!
Also we are looking for anyone who would be happy for their children to take part in the food-tasting and appear in the video. Participants would need to be available for filming on Sun 25 Nov.
Please get in touch if you are interested in getting involved in any way. Email [email protected], extension number 242, or pop in to the Development team above Morralls.
Many thanks
Fi Howell
The email invitations for the new e-payslip portal have now been sent out. Please check your email for a message from [email protected] and click on the link to register.
As previously advised, you will need your NI number to verify your identity.
The most common reasons for failed verifications are as follows:
You will then receive a second email to activate account using your chosen user name and password – you must do this within 24 hours.
If you are having any difficulties please contact Diane, Caroline or Sam in Finance for assistance.
In the first of our series of ‘Meet the Volunteer’ profiles, we hear from Janet who is a volunteer in the Visitor Engagement team:
“I have been a regular visitor to the Museum for about 35 years, having started visiting with my children when they were growing up. I now visit with my grandchildren who are 5 and 6. I was always fascinated by the history and stories that the staff had to tell. I remember the lady in the Anchor Maker’s house – Bessie, I think – and the wonderful gentleman in the glass engraving shop; they were so interesting. I still love how everyone brings the museum to life. It is the best museum I have ever visited.
One day I was visiting on my own and I got chatting to one of the staff who told me that if I was interested, I could volunteer.
I began volunteering by taking part in February half term’s Beyond the Petticoat. It was so much fun and I was totally hooked; I loved being a small part of the event.
After some wonderful training from the staff, I now volunteer regularly on a Monday across the Toll House, Jerushah, Anchor Maker’s and the Back-to-Back House.
The first time a group of school children filed in and looked up at me with expectant faces, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. But, it was a brilliant first-time experience. They even ended up thanking me!
For me, the best part of volunteering is the people I ‘ve met who’ve visited the Museum from places like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Russia, Hungary, Iran and Venezuela (to mention but a few). In fact, I am slowly filling in a world map of where visitors come from.
I just want to thank you for letting me volunteer. I can’t wait for Mondays to come round for me to step back in time!”
