Category: Front slider

  • Mental Health First Aiders

    The Museum has a team of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) to provide support to colleagues who are experiencing poor mental wellbeing or just need someone to talk to. Please find below the details of the Museum’s MHFAs should you wish to have a supportive conversation with someone about your wellbeing. MHFAs can also signpost you to useful resources and professional help and support. Please be assured that any contact and discussion with a MHFA will remain confidential between the two of you.

    A copy of the above can be found in break areas across site.

    We have implemented a rota to ensure that there will be an on-duty MHFA each week to provide Mental Health First Aid to someone experiencing a mental health issue or crisis. This has been in place from the week commencing 28 February 2022. Details of the on-duty MHFA will be shared at morning briefings.

  • Action for Happiness: Mindful March

    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 Mindful March. Let’s pause, breathe and really take in what’s all around us.

    Let’s all use their calendar below, or the Action for Happiness App, to do more good this month.

  • ‘Living with Covid 19’ – Update on Covid related absence

    In line with the latest Government guidance this week setting out the plans for ‘Living with Covid 19’, from Thursday 24 February 2022 there is no longer a requirement for those who test positive to self-isolate. Consistent with other sickness absence, we do not expect individuals to come to work if they feel unwell and have symptoms that may impact the health of other colleagues. Individuals should follow the normal absence reporting procedures. Covid related absences will be recorded and monitored in line with the Museum’s absence policy.

    There is no longer a legal requirement for close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to self-isolate, or for those who are fully vaccinated close contacts to do daily testing. Individuals are encouraged to exercise caution and observe Covid safe behaviors.

  • Important Update – Fri 18 Feb Museum Closure Due To Severe Weather

    Important Update – Fri 18 Feb Museum Closure Due To Severe Weather

    For Friday 18 February an amber weather warning has been issued for high winds for our area. Due to the risks posed by the severe weather warning we have taken the decision to close the Museum on this date. This isn’t a decision that we’ve taken lightly. However, the safety of our visitors and colleagues is our priority. Our neighbours at Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust and Dudley Zoo have also taken the decision to close.

    All front-facing hourly staff who are scheduled to work should not attend the Museum for their shift on Friday 18 February.

    We are instructing all office-based salaried staff to work from home where possible on Friday 18 February. If it is not possible for you to carry out your work from home, please liaise with your line manager.

    Please assume that we will re-open to visitors and staff once again on Saturday 19 February, unless otherwise instructed.

  • BCLM is back on TikTok!

    BCLM is back on TikTok!

    We’d like to thank everyone that has been involved in the relaunch of the Museum TikTok account! The first of a new series of videos was uploaded today and included a special Valentine’s message from our current TikTok characters. If you would like to put yourself forward to be in the videos, there’s still time to get involved! Please see the relevant intranet article about auditioning, or ask a member of the Marketing team for more details.

    See our relaunch video here at: https://bit.ly/3oNB1Ci

  • Filming on site – Tue 15 Feb

    Please note that there is a large-scale production being filmed at the Museum on Tuesday 15 February from 7am until 8pm (with Monday 14 February as a set up day).

    Car park

    The production’s unit base will be at the bottom end of the car park and there will be around 50-60 other cars associated with the production, however you should still be able to park as normal in the top end of the car park.

    Access to the Museum

    Please enter the Museum in the morning via Rolfe Street and NOT the green side gate as they will be shooting at Bradburn & Wedge first thing until mid-morning.

    In addition to Bradburn & Wedge, locations include the Workers’ Institute and the Cinema so these areas should be avoided. BCLM filming staff will be accompanying the production at all times.

    Should you encounter the filming during the day, please act with discretion and do not take any photographs of the activity or any production personnel which would see us in breach of the location agreement.

    Many thanks for your co-operation.

  • Update – Forging Ahead

    It is fantastic to see the rate and scale of which the Forging Ahead development is advancing. Our behind the hoardings tours have been very popular and with so much now happening, we would like to share our updated Forging Ahead Building Location Plan.

  • Action for Happiness: Friendly February

    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 Friendly February, letting us focus on reaching out to connect with others and doing our best to be a good friend. In stressful times people around us may be feeling the strain, so let’s try to keep calm, take time to listen and show compassion.

    Let’s all use their calendar below, or the Action for Happiness App, to do more good this month.

  • Open audition call out – BCLM social media

    The Audiences & Communications team will be re-launching the Museum’s TikTok account for 2022. The team plans on uploading one video per week (this may be subject to change) and intend to feature a mixture of informational and entertaining videos, all with an educational undertone.

    The team would love to give everyone at the Museum the opportunity to submit their interest to take part in both Tiktok and the Museum’s other social media content. Types of content could include acting, lipsyncing (TikTok specifically) or voiceover work. To do so, the team is inviting you to submit audition videos for their consideration.

    If you would like to be involved, the team is asking you to prepare a video of yourself performing the audition material below.

    Please bear the following in mind when filming your video:

    • Ensure your voice can be heard clearly (no need to add background music or additional sound)
    • There’s no need to dress up in costume for the audition video as the team are looking at your performance
    • Please film your video in your own time and not at the Museum during your working hours
    • Think about how you physically perform as well as your delivery of the script
    • Film your videos in portrait – mobile quality is fine, there’s no need to film on a camera unless you would prefer to
    • Try to learn each line so that you’re not visibly reading the script

    Submissions should be sent to the BCLM Marketing Team iPhone via whatsapp or text on 07563 074173 for Hannah and the A&C team to review. Alternatively you can email videos to [email protected].

    Along with your video messages, please send your name, department and line manager’s name. If the team think you would be a good fit they will be in touch. Please note that involvement with all social media filming sessions are classed as paid shifts so staff will be paid for their involvement.

    The cut-off date for auditions is Friday 18 February. Anything received after this time will not be accepted for this round of auditions. There may be may additional audition periods throughout the year in case people change their mind or to give new staff in the future an opportunity to express interest.

    If you have any questions at all don’t hesitate to contact the A&C team via [email protected].

    Please note that the team is currently only looking for expressions of interest for performers and is not looking for ideas on video content at this time.

    Audition Script

    Did you know that a lot of the food that working class Victorians ate was adulterated?

    Bread was a staple food in the Victorian period and was consumed for almost every meal.

    But most working-class Victorians that lived in back-to-backs like this, didn’t have the time or facilities to bake their own bread from scratch.

    So, they relied on local bakers and retailers to get their bread.

    The problem was that at every point in the supply chain adulterants like chalk, alum and plaster of paris were added.

    These adulterants could build up to dangerous levels and left an already impoverished population very malnourished.

    It could even have deadly consequences for babies.

    The original video can be viewed on TikTok here.

  • Updated COVID guidelines for staff

    Following the Government announcement of the easing of COVID restrictions from Thursday 27th January, the following control measures will remain in place across site. All other restrictions are no longer valid, unless mentioned below.

    • All visitors will be encouraged to wear a face covering in indoor settings.
    • All staff are required to wear a face covering, unless exempt, in indoor public settings and are encouraged to wear a face covering in indoor settings where they may come into close contact with someone who is not in their household e.g. corridors.
    • Visitors are encouraged to maintain a 2 metre distance from those not in their household. Staff should maintain a 2 metre distance from visitors and always at least 1 metre from colleagues.
    • Break spaces and times will be fixed to reduce mixing between teams.
    • Morning briefings will remain separate.
    • Screens will remain in place.
    • Rooms should be ventilated during or after use as appropriate.
    • Sanitising stations will remain in place.
    • Shared spaces should be sanitised with the materials provided after use.
    • Visitors and staff must not attend site if they have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been advised to self-isolate by Test and Trace. Colleagues should continue to regularly test with Lateral Flow Devices and must self-isolate immediately; and notify People & Culture if they either receive a positive result or develop symptoms.

    These measures will be reviewed in 4 weeks or sooner if government advice changes.

    You will notice that individual COVID-19 signage across museum buildings will be removed in coming days in favour of larger messaging at key locations along the visitor journey. Such an approach will retain clear recommendations to our visitors, whilst allowing us to showcase the museum at its best.