Helpdesk

Iplicit

FuseMetrix

Planday

My ePayWindow

Intranet

Category: Events

  • Summer Lates – colleague survey

    Summer Lates – colleague survey

    Thank you to everyone who helped deliver our very successful Summer and Summer Lates programme. We’ve had some amazing feedback from our visitors and now we need to hear from you!
    Please take a few minutes to fill in the colleague survey to tell us what you think by clicking here.
    What we did well:
     
    “First time we have visited. Loads to see and do, we ran out of time and need to come back. Absolutely loved the man who did the chain link at 12:30pm, he made it interesting for the kids and adults. He also did a very good job on the chain link. The people who you had playing the ‘holidaying couple’ were absolutely fantastic. We saw them several times, we interacted with them a couple of times and they always stayed in character, made numerous jokes, it really brightened up our day. Absolutely fantastic.”
    • 75% Excellent, 24% Good = 99% Overall Satisfaction Rating
    • 57% Excellent, 33% Good = 90% Food & Drink Satisfaction Rating
    • 56% Excellent, 32% Good = 88% Trail Leaflet Satisfaction Rating
    • 94% of visitors purchased Food & Drink during their visit
    “Being Asian Indian (born in the UK) it made me realise the challenges and struggles of my parents who came over in the 60s” -Feedback on the BCT X Jai Patel performance
    “We enjoyed absolutely everything, the music, the protest which we were apart of, the dance lessons, how amazing all the staff were in the shops and of course the fish and chips”
    “The play by Black Country Touring was absolutely excellent. Really brought the history alive and amplified hidden voices/ stories in a provocative and hilarious way. Superb.”
    “There were great performances from singers and musicians, the atmosphere was great and it wasn’t too busy.”
    What we can learn from:
    “Don’t think the staff on that evening knew an awful lot about the history of where they were ie tilted cottage lady just sat sewing not bothered about interacting. The staff were all very young and whilst pleasant didn’t seem to want to interact with visitors or seem to have any idea of history. Have to say not many genuine Black Country speaking staff though can see this may be limited in obtaining staff .”
    “Food hut in the courtyard behind the 1960’s street wasn’t open like it was last year. The queue was too big at the chip shop so that meant good choice was very limited. See previous comments about the fair prices. Still not we bought signage and information boards about the buildings. You’re inside of looking at a building and no idea what it is……”
    Well done everyone however as this has proved to be a highly successful summer overall. Please do complete the survey and any specific questions regarding programme feedback, contact [email protected]
  • Summer Holidays – visitors’ feedback and colleague survey

    Summer Holidays – visitors’ feedback and colleague survey

    Thank you to everyone who helped deliver our very successful Summer and Summer Lates programmes. We’ve had some amazing feedback from our visitors, and now we need to hear from you!
    Please take a few minutes to fill in the colleague survey to tell us what you think by clicking here.
    (This is only for daytime, a Summer Lates survey will also be circulated soon)
    What we did well:
     
    “First time we have visited. Loads to see and do, we ran out of time and need to come back. Absolutely loved the man who did the chain link at 12.30pm, he made it interesting for the kids and adults. He also did a very good job on the chain link. The people who you had playing the ‘holidaying couple’ were absolutely fantastic. We saw them several times, we interacted with them a couple of times and they always stayed in character, made numerous jokes, it really brightened up our day. Absolutely fantastic.”
    • 76% Excellent, 21% Good = 96% Overall Satisfaction Rating
    • 51% Excellent, 38% Good = 89% Food & Drink Satisfaction Rating
    • 56% Excellent, 26% Good = 82% Trail Leaflet Satisfaction Rating
    • 42% of visitors had their first visit this summer
     
    “The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the staff. Every member we encountered was friendly, knowledgeable, and wonderfully patient with the barrage of questions—both serious and silly—from our three small children. Their enthusiasm really brought the experience to life for all of us. The kids would say the fun fair and the co-operative for the interactive experience they had in there”
    “Bakers shop cakes etc and the pork cobs from the butchers ere both very good.”
    What we can learn from:
     
    Some visitors criticised the state of some exhibits, with the boat dock and the steam engines being noted for their inactivity and state of disarray. Visitors chose to comment on the themes of the industrial revolution not coming through as much as they think it should. Queues for food are always a tough point to combat, with demeanour of certain staff noted as short and not solution focused, moreover the food options in the The Workers’ Institute & Café are severely limited as of yet. The other points are on the topic of the map and trail being confused for one another. It seems a lot of visitors are using their trail as a site map, and missing out on the clarity of the regular site map for key non-programme specific locations. Both should be given to visitors at the start of their day.
    Well done everyone however as this has proved to be a highly successful summer overall. Please do complete the survey and any specific questions regarding programme feedback, contact [email protected]
  • Programme overview – Summer Lates

    Programme overview – Summer Lates

    Date and times:
    Every Friday in August .
    4pm – 8pm.
    Concept:
    The Summer lates are back! Every night in August, we’re extending our opening hours until 8pm. Demonstrating the best of the museum has to offer, there’s the chain maker’s strike, plenty of games, and decade dance classes, as well as bostin’ Black Country food, live music, and a performance of ‘Return to Sender’ by BCT. 
    Take a look at the event flyer.
    For more information, please see the context sheet.
    Contact: [email protected] (Programme)
  • 1940s Weekend – colleague survey

    1940s Weekend – colleague survey

    Thank you to everyone who participated in our 1940s Weekend (Daytime). We’ve had some brilliant feedback from our visitors and now we need to hear from you!

    Please take a few minutes to fill in our colleague survey to tell us what you think by clicking here.

    (Please note, this is the survey for DAYTIME. An Evening survey will be circulated soon!)

    What we did well:

    “I wouldn’t even know where to start, everything was amazing. From the people in costume, acting and telling stories to the cleanliness of the place. It’s amazing. The market was a great surprise and the availability of drinking water was greatly appreciated in the heat. It was my partner’s first time and it lived up to how much me and my family love the place.”

    In general, visitors commented on the atmosphere, the things they could do/get involved in, friendly staff and the Lancaster Bomber (and Fish & Chips, no surprises there…!)

    • 72% Excellent, 20% Good = 92% Overall Satisfaction Rating.
    • 47% Excellent, 35% Good = 82% Food & Drink Satisfaction Rating.
    • 90% of visitors used the map during their visit.
    • 30% of visitors came for the first time.

    “It’s hard to pick a favourite. It was my first ever visit, after having wanted to visit for many years, and I felt transported in time by the attention to detail in the way the streets and exterior and interior of the buildings were presented and the ambience created by music throughout the museum…Thank you to everyone for their efforts and keep up the good work! I can’t wait to come back!”

    What we can learn from:

    In general, visitors commented on the business of site both at admissions and food/drink outlets. A lot of these comments also mentioned the hot weather which exacerbated their waiting time. There are a lot of comments that mentions access requirements not being met which marries with the data (below).

    • 14% Strongly Disagree, 3% Disagree = 17% of people said the Museum didn’t meet their personal physical access requirements.
    • I have a greater understanding of migration into the Black Country 67% (this is significantly lower than other learning questions).

    “Have a disability entrance as my child is disabled and couldn’t cope with the huge queue to get in. We couldn’t find access to any form of disability queue or staff member to be able to get help. He has an access pass but didn’t seem anyway to get the support needed for access to the event”

    Well done to all teams and please do complete the survey. For any specific questions on the programme or feedback, please email [email protected]

  • Summer Holidays – programme overview

    Summer Holidays – programme overview

    Date and times:
    Saturday 19 July – Sunday 31 August 2025
    Concept:
    Summer is here, everyone is enjoying longer and warmer days. Although everyone’s working lives are busy, they can enjoy brighter hours in their spare time making the most of the nicer weather. Some characters are lucky enough to afford a holiday away from the Black Country with family and friends, and those that are not fortunate to do that are planning some time away in fresh country air working at hop picking. We’re trying to demonstrate the best BCLM has to offer with a summertime atmosphere through increased demonstrations, recognisable characters, and engaging activity. Around site there is a distinctive “summer holiday” feeling as characters talk about where they might be hoping to go this year.
    Contact:
    [email protected] (Programme)
  • Windrush stories day – colleague survey

    Windrush stories day – colleague survey

    We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of our Windrush Stories Day event on Saturday 21 June.
    We’re proud to share that we exceeded our visitor target of 1,350, welcoming over 1,600 attendees! Notably, 39% of our visitors were from African Caribbean and mixed heritage backgrounds—a significant increase from just 10% in 2024. This reflects the growing visibility of this event and the continued work we have done with communities.
    We’ve already received some wonderful feedback from visitors who joined us on the day, and we’d love to hear from you too. Please take a few minutes to complete our staff survey with your response to the programme.
    • 93% of visitors “enjoyed their visit”
    • 85% of visitors rated their overall experience of the programme as “good” or “excellent”
    • 72% of visitors “learnt that the museum represented their heritage”
    • 71% of visitors gained a deeper appreciation of the challenges that the Windrush Generation faced.
    • 76% of visitors rated the quality of the trail leaflet as “excellent” or “good”
    Responses
    • “It was very well organised, easy to get around. The actors were amazing and the choir in the church were out of this world.
    • “I attended the Windrush event which meant the black community in the Black Country was represented…the presence of our history within the museum filled the missing gap.”
    • “All things going on for Windrush day the food activities and the people made it special so much fun and learn so much”
    • “…more Caribbean music around the park to create a atmosphere”
    • “I feel there could have been more activities/sessions regarding the Windrush. More actors/actresses on the streets.”
    • “Additional food Caribbean food stalls to reduce queueing and wait times”
  • 1940s Weekend – programme overview

    1940s Weekend – programme overview

    Date and times:

    Daytime: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 10am – 5pm

    1940s Evening: 12 July 7pm – 10.30pm

    Programme Concept:

    A full weekend of 1940s themed entertainment, activities and history, centering on life in the Black Country during the 40s. We want to offer visitors the opportunity to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the decade.

    There will be an emphasis on WWII, but post-War will also feature including the impact of rebuilding Britain, Industry and Rationing. Finally, we will acknowledge the 80th anniversary of VE Day which would have been marked earlier on in May.

    Daytime: Emphasis on storytelling and activity to provide visitors with an insight into the 1940s and how people experienced the decade. Light entertainment.

    Evening: Emphasis on entertainment with live music, dance, food and fashion. Lighter storytelling.

    Please, see the map.

    Programme context sheet.

    Contact: [email protected] (Programme) [email protected] (Event)

  • Celebration Weekend – Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 July

    Celebration Weekend – Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 July

    Following our recent triumph at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, we’re hosting an exciting Celebration Weekend on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July. This public event will be filled with summer fun, freebies, and a whole lot of bostin’ Black Country spirit for our visitors!

    Here’s what our visitors can look forward to this weekend:

    • Cool down with a free Marshfield’s Farm ice cream* topped with a BCLM wafer, in a range of delicious flavours
    • Take a spin on the vintage fairground, with one free ride per child**.
    • Join the lively Gamesmaster in Folkes Park for classic sports day fun—test your skills in the egg & spoon race, limbo your way to glory, or prove you can skip better than your dad!
    • Step into Audree’s School of Dance and have a go at some dances through the decades with the historical dance teacher
    • Meet costumed historic characters, enjoy live heritage demonstrations, and take part in hands-on activities across the Museum’s immersive open-air site.
    • Celebrate everything that’s bostin about the Black Country, from its industrial roots to its unmistakable wit and warmth.
    • Explore their newly expanded 1940s–60s town, where stories from living memory come to life in an unforgettable, interactive experience.

     

    Plus, in case you missed our last post, we’ll be celebrating with colleagues too with a dedicated staff celebration in the Autumn – more details on this to follow.

  • Windrush Stories Day Programme – overview

    Date and times:
    Saturday 21 June
    10am – 5pm
    Windrush Day is back at the Museum on Saturday 21 June to commemorate this symbolic moment in our nation’s history, showcasing Black British contribution to the Black Country and the wider UK, from Commonwealth countries and beyond.
     Visitors and members from the community will have a chance to discover stories across the site including:
    • Learn how to play Jamaican dominoes in the Elephant and Castle pub.
    • Get their hair styled and makeup done with Genna.
    • Join the lively steel pan workshop to experience the vibrant sounds of the Caribbean.
    Key Characters include:
    To see the full programme, download the activity trail Windrush Event map 2025.pdf.
    For any questions, please contact the programme lead Izzy Taylor [email protected], Chantelle Richards [email protected] or Janine Downes [email protected].
  • May Half Term – Colleague evaluation survey

    May Half Term – Colleague evaluation survey

    Thank you so much to everyone who took part in and supported May Half Term’s theme “Sugar and Spice. The visitor response has been quite positive (see below for ratings and comments). As always, your feedback is extremely valuable to us, so please take a few minutes to fill in our colleague survey.

    • 91% of visitors rated their overall experience of the programme as “good” or “excellent”

    Here’s some of the feedback (both positive and constructive)