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  • May Half Term – Roll up your sleeves

    May Half Term – Roll up your sleeves

    Dates: Saturday 23rd – Sunday 31st May 2026

    Description of programme: Visitors will learn about the many and varied occupations that have made up the Black Country over the decades. Children will discover the difficult lives of working children in the past, their poor working conditions and how education could offer them a way into a different life. Visitors will get the opportunity to try their hand at some occupations from the past and help workers try to improve their working conditions.

    Context Sheet: May Half Term Context Sheet

    Click here to view programme trail

     

    Contact: [email protected] (Programme Lead)

  • Update to Wellbeing Support: Moving to an EAP – Led Approach

    Update to Wellbeing Support: Moving to an EAP – Led Approach

    We want to share an important update on how colleagues can access wellbeing support across the Museum.

    Why we are making a change

    We want to make sure that everyone can access the right wellbeing support, at the right time, in a way that is consistent, confidential, and sustainable.

    Over time, we’ve learned more about how colleagues access support and what works best in practice. This has highlighted the value of providing direct access to trained professionals who can offer specialist, confidential advice whenever it’s needed.

    We’ve also found that the current Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) model can be challenging to sustain consistently across the organisation, and that the role has sometimes extended beyond its original scope.Moving to an EAP-led approach allows us to build on these learnings and provide a clearer, more reliable route to support for everyone.

    What is changing

    We will be moving to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)-led approach for wellbeing support.

    This means:

    • The EAP will become the primary route for support, offering confidential access to trained professionals
    • Colleagues can contact the EAP directly at any time by calling 0800 756 0861, quoting “perkbox” and ” Black Country Living Museum”.

    Accessing support while at work

    If you need support while at work:

    • Please speak to your Duty Support (where available)
      • Enterprise: 07568 428543
      • Historic Characters: 0121 521 696
    • If none of the above are available, you can contact the Duty Manager; 07788 666161

    They will support you by:

    • Helping you step away from your duties where needed
    • Arranging cover if required
    • Providing a private, safe space
    • Offering a calm and supportive presence
    • Supporting you in accessing the EAP (for example, sitting with you while you make contact)

    While colleagues and managers are there to support you, they do not take on MHFA responsibilities. Their role is to respond appropriately and help you access professional support through the EAP.

    What this means for MHFAs

    We will be moving away from the MHFA role as it currently operates, including removing the duty MHFA phone and posters.

    We are grateful to all colleagues who have supported others as MHFAs and recognise the important contribution they have made.

    What will stay the same

    While the way support is accessed is changing, our commitment to colleague wellbeing remains the same. We will continue to:

    • Foster a supportive and open culture
    • Ensure colleagues feel safe, respected, and able to seek help
    • Provide clear and accessible routes to support

    If you have any questions in the meantime, please email: [email protected]

  • Mental Health Awareness Week: Wellbeing Support Through Perkbox

    Mental Health Awareness Week: Wellbeing Support Through Perkbox

    As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (12–18 May) and our ongoing commitment to Health & Wellbeing, colleagues with access to Perkbox can take part in virtual Wellbeing Assessments from 13 May.

    The assessment will help those who would like to better understand their wellbeing and learn more about the support available through Perkbox. You will receive clear insights and practical steps to help you feel and function better.

    The assessments are based on clinically validated non-diagnostic scales and are aimed to measure wellbeing, not provide diagnosis. The Wellbeing index has been developed by the World Health Organisation.

    Please note that all responses are completely anonymous.

  • 1960s Weekend

    1960s Weekend

    Dates: Friday 15th May (evening only), Saturday 16th May (day and evening), Sunday 17th May (day only)
    Description of programme:
    Mod or rocker, Beatles mad or Rolling Stones fan….Visitors will join us in the swingin’ 60s, as this defining decade in British history takes over our museum!
    They will hear their favourite 1960s music played by live bands, explore our 1960s buildings, see vintage vehicles, as well as 60s fashion trends. There will be opportunity to learn about technological advancements, attitude changes and liberation. Visitors will be able to take part in a protest and celebrate England’s World Cup in with our historic characters, as well as dance the night away to their favourite 60s music.

    Please check out the context sheet for more information about the programme activity. Here1960s Weekend Context Sheet  ​

    For any questions, please speak to the programme lead, Jozey Grae – [email protected]
  • Back to the Floor – Step Into the Visitor Experience

    Back to the Floor – Step Into the Visitor Experience

    We all have our routines, the same desk, the same screen, the same meetings, and probably the same outfits on rotation.

    This July, we’re launching Back to the Floor – a new opportunity for office based colleagues to spend a day supporting our front-of-house teams across the Museum.

    This initiative directly supports one of the Museum’s core strategic priorities that we shared with all colleagues in January: Deliver excellence in every experience. By spending time alongside our visitor-facing teams, we strengthen our understanding of the experiences our visitors, colleagues and partners have every day.

    Whether you’re welcoming visitors, supporting cleaning or our enterprise operations, assisting with events, or stepping into one of our Historic Character roles, this is a chance to experience the Museum from a completely different perspective.

    Think of it as a shadowing or immersion experience – an opportunity to step away from your usual routine, connect with colleagues across departments, and gain valuable insight into the day-to-day realities of visitor-facing work.

    Why get involved?

    • Contribute directly to our strategic priority to deliver excellence in every experience
    • Build stronger relationships across teams
    • Gain a fresh perspective on how the Museum operates day to day
    • Develop a deeper understanding of the visitor experience and what excellence looks like in practice
    • Experience the challenges, pace, and rewards of frontline roles
    • Step away from the desk and experience the Museum in action

    How it works

    A range of shifts are available across different teams and locations. You can sign up: Back to the floor Sign up

    On the sign up sheet you’ll find:

    • Dates and times for all available shifts
    • Details of what each role involves
    • Guidance on what to wear
    • Building notes for anyone taking part in Historic Character roles

    Managers have been closely involved in planning the initiative and are fully supportive of colleague participation. Time away from normal duties will be accommodated to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part, as participation in Back to the Floor is mandatory for all office-based colleagues.

    We hope you’ll take this opportunity to learn something new, meet colleagues from across the Museum, and experience a different side of what we do. Most importantly, this initiative is about ensuring we all play our part in delivering excellence in every experience – for every visitor, every colleague and every interaction.

    We hope you’ll take this opportunity to learn something new, meet colleagues from across the Museum, and experience a different side of what we do.

    Let’s get back to the floor – together – and deliver excellence in every experience!

    Building notes:

  • Strategic Directions Drop-in Sessions update

    Strategic Directions Drop-in Sessions update

    Thank you to those of you who have signed up to attend the Strategic Directions Drop-in sessions. For those of you who wish to join these online, the Teams links for each session are attached below:
    All sessions run 5:15-6:15pm in Classroom One, Learning Centre.
    You’re welcome to join whichever sessions are most relevant to you or come along to all of them. There’s still time to sign-up.
  • People News – April 2026

    People News – April 2026

    Starters

    This month, we welcomed Alice Thacker, Public Programme Producer to the programming team, Raj Athi, Site Cleaner to the Cleaning & Recycling team, along with a number of casual team members joining our Car Park, Cleaning & Recycling and Historic Character teams.

    Please give them all a warm welcome when you see them on site.

    Changes

    Karen Kennedy, Enterprise Supervisor will be seconded to the role of Enterprise Team Manager for 2 months within the Enterprise team.

  • DSE (Display Screen Equipment) – Process Update

    DSE (Display Screen Equipment) – Process Update

    The Museum will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that staff are not harmed by the use of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and that all relevant statutory requirements are met. Further information can be found in the Health & Safety Policy.

    Identifying DSE Users
    DSE users will be identified at the start of employment or where a change in job role requires the use of DSE. Any person who regularly uses display screen equipment for more than one hour at a time during their work is classified as a DSE user.

    The Museum will take all reasonable steps to:

    • Ensure workstations meet minimum requirements
    • Analyse workstations and assess and reduce risks
    • Plan work activities to include breaks
    • Provide eye tests on request and contribute towards spectacles where required solely for DSE use

    To meet these obligations, the Museum will:

    • Identify DSE users at commencement of employment or upon change in role
    • Require new users to complete a DSE assessment within 6 weeks
    • Ensure DSE users are reassessed every 12 months
    • Refund the cost of an eye test (up to £30) once every 2 years, or more frequently if recommended by an optician due to DSE-related visual difficulties
    • Refund up to £30 towards a basic pair of DSE-only glasses or corrective appliances

    Training and Assessment Requirements
    At the start of employment and then annually, the Talent & Development Coordinator will confirm whether an employee is a DSE user. If so, the employee will be assigned iHASCO DSE training and be required to complete DSE workstation assessment. You must have completed DSE training and submitted both your assessment and certificate to [email protected] before any reimbursement claims for eye tests or glasses can be made (this is required for each workstation, including home working where applicable).

    Eye Test and Expense Claims Process (Updated)
    DSE users are no longer required to complete an Employee Eye Test Request Form.
    All claims should be submitted via iplicit and coded directly to the People Team (budget code: 3600-PAC-CORE-BCLM), claims must include a valid receipt. Full details on how to claim expenses can be found in the Expenses Policy.

    For any question please email [email protected]

  • Our Kid of the Month – The Results!!! 

    Our Kid of the Month – The Results!!! 

    Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate your colleagues for their GREAT contribution to Our Bostin Promise. We received a total of 53 votes across 11 departments.
    Our Bostin Promise Postcards

    2 postcards were given out this month:

    • “Care” by Jon White to Kirsty Clarke for her work supporting a child with additional needs who was struggling to leave the shop to carry on with their visit happily.
    • “Welcome” by Carla Jasper to Ezra Brueton for going above and beyond welcoming overseas visitors from Spain in Spanish.

    Managers and Supervisors have these cards that they can give out to colleagues in recognition of their work on Our Bostin Promise.

    Our Kid

    • Sam Davies – Finance Team 

    Sam received 5 votes from across the organisation for her outstanding work on implementing our new ticketing system FuseMetrix. Her attention to detail, incredible knowledge, care for others in the process whilst delivering the project on schedule were mentioned several times. Feedback showed that she hit all 4 pillars of the Bostin Promise.

    Runners Up

    • Demi Whitehouse – Enterprise
    • Josh Cuthbert – Enterprise
    • Richard Abbott – Historic Character
    • Wallace Hill – Historic Character
    • Melanie Penn – Cleaning Team

    It’s been heartwarming to read all the nominations so do take a look. Every nomination submitted for April can be found: Our Bostin Promise Nominations April 2026. Winners will receive their vouchers at the upcoming briefings on 5, 7 & 9 May.

    Details of how scoring has been applied are set out below.

    Scoring Criteria

    You will receive one score for each nomination received using the “Not so Good to Great” Ladder criteria.
    Ok
    Positive interaction
    Doing your job well
    1
    Good
    High level of satisfaction
    Proactive and Adaptive
    Positive outcome
    2
    Great
    Above and beyond
    Sometimes outside of your role
    Exceed expectations
    3
    You can gain extra points by…
    A vote from somebody in another department
    +1
    Meeting all 4 pillars of Our Bostin Promise
    +1
    In a tiebreaker situation…
    Have you received a nomination from another department?
    +1
    Is feedback received varied?
    +1
    Have you met more pillars of Our Bostin Promise?
    +1

    Reminders

    • Don’t forget any votes received after 12pm on 30 April will be counted in May – and voting is already open!
    • A gentle reminder that each colleague should only vote once per month, multiple votes will be discounted.
    • You have until 12pm on 31st May to vote.
    • There will always be 6 winners in total – the highest scoring being Our Kid of the Month with 5 runners up; 2 from Enterprise, 2 from Historic Characters and 2 from all other departments.

    Voting for May is open!

    Or complete a slip and post in the white boxes across all break areas.

  • Strategic Directions Drop-in Sessions, May 2026

    Strategic Directions Drop-in Sessions, May 2026

    At January RESET, we shared the Museum’s overall strategy and the direction for each team. We’re now opening up a series of informal drop-in sessions to take a closer look at how these are being delivered.
    This is a chance to hear directly from colleagues about their priorities, ask questions, and see how the bigger picture connects across the organisation.
    Session schedule:
    • Mon 11 May – Operations (Nick Sellers)
    • Tue 12 May – Cultural Enterprises (Kate Kirkpatrick)
    • Wed 13 May – Public Programmes (Janine Downes)
    • Thu 14 May – Finance (Diane Harvey)
    • Mon 18 May – Development & Communications (Hannah Parsons)
    • Tue 19 May – Interpretation & Collections (Matthew Cowpe)

    All sessions run 5:15–6:15pm in Classroom One, Learning Centre.

     

    You’re welcome to join whichever sessions are most relevant to you or come along to all of them.

     

    If you’re not able to attend in person you are welcome to join online. Links will be sent out nearer the time.

     

    To take part, please sign up using the link here – ​Strategic Directions Drop-in Sessions​ or contact [email protected], or drop into the Hartill’s office.