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  • Action for Happiness: Altruistic August

    Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.

    Each month they release a “Monthly Action Calendar” which are packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world.

    This month’s theme is Altruistic August. Altruism is all about the selfless caring for others. This month, Action for Happiness is asking everyone to take one kind act per day. 

    Let’s all use their calendar below, or the Action for Happiness App, to create a wave of kindness to spread around the workplace.

    Find out more about Action for Happiness and view their previous monthly action calendars.

  • Training Opportunity For New Transport Drivers

    Training Opportunity For New Transport Drivers

    We are looking for new transport employees to train to drive, conduct and act as a banksman as appropriate for the fleet of passenger carrying vehicles, which includes Motorbuses, Trolleybuses and Trams. At times, you will be required to drive non-passenger carrying vehicles such as cars to enhance the visitor offer or for special events.

    You will be involved in driving the passenger carrying vehicles in the fleet and engaging with the public with vehicle specific details and also the stories linked to such vehicles in the Black Country.  

    We’re looking for someone with:
    • Confident and engaging delivery
    • The ability to adapt their delivery to the audience
    • Excellent knowledge of the fleet, following training
    • A willingness to deliver a range of daily tasks to create an immersive experience for visitors.
    • The ability to adapt to the requirements and foci of programmed events/core offer.
    • A willingness to work collaboratively with a wide range of individuals.
    • The ability to adhere to safety management systems and training and/or assessment protocols, including any specific restraints or requirements concerning individual vehicles.

    Applicants will be subject to a Transport Driver initial driving assessment and only those that pass this will be considered for the formal skills training.

    Successful candidates will then receive:
    • A training programme encompassing driver, conductor and banksman responsibilities starting with Motorbuses.
    • Continued support from experienced trainers.
    • A training pack including checklists, notes and supporting images of the fleet.

    You will need to hold a full, current clean UK driving license. A driver medical will also be required. Our insurance only covers drivers between the ages of 25- 75.

    Please email your interest to [email protected] by Monday 9 August 2021. 

  • Staff & Volunteer Support for Co-op Early Years Learning Space Fundraising (21-22 Aug)

    Co-Op Central England are launching an in-store fundraising campaign to support BCLM: Forging Ahead across its network of 36 stores. 

    The campaign will fund an Early Years learning space that will be constructed at the rear of the recreated Halesowen & Hasbury Cooperative Store, which is being built as part of our new 1940s-60s historic town.  The fundraising target is £15,000 and will equip an exciting learning space for 3-5 year olds within the recreated store at the Museum. Replica food items, miniature trolleys, costume, display units and a counter with scales and a working till will allow children to explore and learn through play.

    Fundraising activity will take place in Co-Op Central England stores across the weekend of Sat 21 – Sun 22 Aug.  For six of the larger stores in the network, the Co-op have asked if BCLM staff and volunteers dressed in 1940s costume would be willing to visit these stories over the weekend and support the fundraising efforts.  Ideally, we’re looking for two people per store who would be able to spend c.3 hours on Saturday or Sunday of that weekend and who could talk to shoppers about Forging Ahead and the Early Years fundraising.  A full briefing would be given.

    At this stage, we’re looking for an expression of interest from people who are available on these days and who would be willing to get involved with this project.  If you’d be interested in finding out more, please complete the expression of interest form below by Sun 8 Aug:

    Expression of interest form

  • BCSC Lectures: Upcoming talk tomorrow

    Black Country Studies Centre’s series of free online talks discussing topics around the theme of Nostalgia continues tomorrow evening with “The Nostalgia Series Part 3: Smell, Autobiographical Memory and Nostalgia”. Tickets are still available and can be booked via our website here. If you’ve missed previous lectures and would like to catch up, recordings from a number of lectures are available to watch via the University of Wolverhampton’s YouTube channel.

    Date: Thursday 29th July, 2021

    Time: 7pm – 8pm

    Venue: Zoom

    Introducing the Nostalgia Series

    Nostalgia is a contentious issue. Whilst for some it is a harmless, helpful, rose-tinted view of the past, it has also been viewed critically, as a form of regressive, reactionary and sentimental escapism. Yet there is a steadily increasing body of work that reassesses nostalgia in a more positive, active and empowering light. Through this research network series, we seek to gain a greater understanding of nostalgia, and its impact on museums, regional and local history, lifelong learning and communities.

    The Talk: Smell, Autobiographical Memory and Nostalgia

    Nostalgia, defined by Pearsall (1998) as a “sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past”, can be bittersweet and may elicit negative feelings like yearning. However, current psychological research emphasises the positive aspects of nostalgia for personally experienced events, including increased feelings of optimism, positivity, self-esteem, and self-continuity.

    Nostalgia can also be understood as a phenomenon of autobiographical memory, where significant events from our lives can be re-experienced through a form of “mental time travel”. Psychological research into autobiographical memory can therefore offer us important insights into nostalgia, and studies have shown that some cues – like smells – may be particularly effective at helping us to reminisce about the past. Indeed, psychological research into the Proust phenomenon confirms that certain smells can unlock vivid memories from childhood – memories that may otherwise be obscured by childhood amnesia.

    This talk discusses two recent studies exploring the connection between childhood memory, smell and location, including the “Snidge Scrumpin’” project that investigated the Proust phenomenon in the Black Country. This found that certain smells, like Teddy Grays herbal tablets – hard-boiled sweets made in Dudley – elicited higher quality memories in those who grew up in the Black Country than those who grew up elsewhere. Typically, the memories recalled in response to smells were also positive, suggesting that odours offer a unique way of remembering pleasant events from our distant past in a manner that may be beneficial. Finally, family and familial locations had an important place within these memories, which is a common characteristic of nostalgia.

    The Speaker:

    Dr Tom Mercer is a Senior Lecturer and cognitive psychologist at the University of Wolverhampton. Tom is one of the coordinators of the Applied Cognition and Individual Differences research group and his main research interest is forgetting. Tom’s research projects typically use the experimental method to examine factors responsible for the loss of memory. Much of this research examines memory for non-verbal, sensory information

    The event will be held on Zoom and a link will be sent shortly beforehand. It is free to attend.

  • Volunteers for Museum Learning Award 2021

    Applications are open for the 13th annual Volunteers for Museum Learning Award.

    The award, which is ran by The British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust, celebrates the achievements and contribution of volunteers in museums, galleries and heritage sites all over the United Kingdom, recognising their dedication, innovation and excellence in engaging with the public on-site and online.

    Winners of the 12 regional awards will each receive a £500 prize. An overall national winner will also be chosen and they’ll receive an additional £2,000. Prizes will be awarded at a ceremony at the British Museum in autumn 2021.

    The criteria

    –  They are looking for applications which demonstrate that during 2020 volunteers have helped their museum (or site) to adapt to the pandemic and to promote learning and enjoyment.

    –  Applications should focus on the achievements of a specific volunteer or a small team.

    –  The volunteering can be onsite, a contribution to an online project or an off-site activity that supports learning, enjoyment and community engagement.

    –  The volunteering highlighted in the application must have taken place predominantly during 2020. Volunteer projects that were developed in 2020 but could not be launched as planned because of the pandemic will be eligible.

    Who can enter?

    –  An individual or small group of volunteers who engage with the public in a museum, gallery or heritage site.

    –  Multiple individuals or small groups of volunteers from the same museum or gallery are welcome to apply.

    –  Volunteers can nominate themselves but they must have the support of their organisation.

    –  A museum may enter on behalf of an individual volunteer/group of volunteers.

    –  British Museum volunteers are not permitted to apply.

    How to enter

    Go to https://www.britishmuseum.org/support-us/volunteer/marsh-awards to complete an online application. 

    Your application can be submitted via email or as a hard copy.

    –  Please provide a short description of the voluntary activity you are nominating for an award (max. 250 words).

    –  Briefly describe how the volunteer(s) have enhanced the museum experience for visitors or made a difference to their heritage site (max. 250 words).

    –  Include some examples of positive feedback from visitors, museum staff and/or local community members.

    –  If possible, please include up to five photographs related to the volunteer activity and/or your site. Include a leaflet about your museum if you have one.

    Please send your completed statement and supporting documents to:

    Volunteers office
    The British Museum
    Great Russell Street
    London WC1B 3DG

    Or email:
    [email protected]

    All entries must be received by 17.00 on Friday 30 July 2021

  • Action for Happiness: Jump Back Up July

    Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.

    Each month they release a “Monthly Action Calendar” which are packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world.

    This month’s theme is Jump Back Up July. This is all about resilience and understanding how we can build skills that will help us to bounce back.

    Let’s all use their calendar below, or the Action for Happiness App, for their daily suggestions on how we can build our resilience this month. 

    Find out more about Action for Happiness and view their previous monthly action calendars.

  • Parking update

    Parking update

    Now the vaccine centre has closed, please may all staff revert to parking on the left hand side of the car park, freeing up space for visitors on the main area of the car park.

    There is now no requirement to park on the Zoo car park at weekends.

  • Museum & Heritage Award Winners!

    We’re delighted to announce that BCLM won the Best Use of Social Media award for its TikTok channel at last night’s Museum & Heritage Awards (Thu 1 Jul).

    BCLM was up against some worthy competition in York Museums (who were highly commended for their work), the Tank Museum, National Museums Liverpool, and the Coffin Works.

    According to the award’s judging panel BCLM won due to its TikTok’s ‘seismic impact and for seizing the moment in such a robust way, connecting with a core target audience of younger people. The Black Country Living Museum is a real trailblazer.’

    Without the support of colleagues from across all Museum teams this success would not have been possible. Thank you to everyone. A very special thank you must also go to our talented team of Historic Characters who so consistently and wonderfully bring our videos to life and to Abby Bird for her desire to innovate and bring the Museum’s story to people in a bold, new way.

    With over 1.2 million followers BCLM is the UK’s most followed museum on TikTok and is providing inspiration for other heritage organisations in how to connect with future generations. We’re proud to be part of a movement that makes our sector a vibrant and stimulating digital space for people to engage with their history.

  • 125k jabs delivered by the BCLM Vaccination Centre

    Black Country & West Birmingham NHS CCG have shared the amazing news that 125,000 jabs were delivered to the local community across Jan-Jun during the opeation of the Vaccination Centre at the Museum.

    The impressive result couldn’t have been achieved with the hard work of NHS staff and volunteers as well as the support of the BCLM colleagues. Thank you to everyone.

    For the full story, see our news page

  • Colleague Tickets: Peaky Blinders Nights

    We’re about to launch the ticket on-sale for our much-anticipated Peaky Blinders Nights. Tickets will go on-sale to Members from 12 noon on Wed 30 June and discounted tickets for colleagues will be available for purchase from Fri 2 July.

    “Grab your flatcap and don your finest threads for a night of fun and revelry as you step into the smoky underworld of the 1920s. Explore the Museum’s streets and alleys and hear of tales about Birmingham’s most notorious gangs. Enjoy the roaring nightlife of the interwar years with music and entertainment around every corner.“

    In line with previous years we’ve been able to ring-fence an allocation of discounted tickets for colleagues. A minimum of 30 tickets per event night at a 50% discount will be available for colleagues to purchase for Peaky Blinders Nights. As per 1940s Evening we are currently able to allocate a total of 30 staff tickets per night, and may be in a position to review the number of discounted colleague tickets that we can make available should we be able to increase the overall capacity for events as part of the Government’s future review of the Roadmap.

    Colleagues are able to purchase up to four discounted tickets and two additional full price tickets per event (subject to ticket availability.) To purchase staff tickets please speak to the Sales and Ticketing team in the Canalside offices from Fri 2 July.

    For more information on our colleague ticket policy please refer to our guiding document here.