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Category: General News

  • Great Turnout for Our First Crochet Workshop! đŸ§¶

    Great Turnout for Our First Crochet Workshop! đŸ§¶

    We had a fantastic response to the first session of our crochet workshop – thank you to everyone who came along! A big shoutout to Lisa for her patience and guidance as we got to grips with the basics.
     
    If you missed it, don’t worry – there’s another chance to join in this week!
     
    📅 Dates:
    • Thursday 5 June
    • Thursday 12 June
    • Thursday 19 June
    🕟 Time: 4:30pm – 6:00pm (drop in anytime)
    📍 Where: Visitor Centre CafĂ©
    đŸ’· Cost: Free (all equipment provided)
    ☕ Refreshments: Tea, coffee, squash and biscuits available
    đŸ‘šâ€đŸ‘©â€đŸ‘§ Friends & family welcome!
     
    Come along, get creative, and enjoy! To help us plan for numbers, please email [email protected] to sign up.
     
    Looking forward to seeing you there!
  • Our Museum wins gold in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award!

    Our Museum wins gold in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award!

    🏆 We’ve done it – National Gold for Black Country Living Museum!

    Announced last night at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence

    We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that Black Country Living Museum has been awarded Gold for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence!

    This is a huge honour—and a moment of real pride not just for the Museum, but for the entire Black Country. It recognises the stories we tell, the unique experience we offer, and the heart and soul our people put into every visit.

    🌟 Top spot in a tough field

    We were proud to be named a national finalist alongside two outstanding attractions:

    • Liverpool Football Club Tours & Experiences
    • The National Space Centre

    To then be awarded Gold ahead of these incredible venues makes this recognition even more special.

    This year’s competition was fierce, with over 1,800 entries across the country at the start of the journey to the final. To come out on top is a remarkable achievement.

    👏 This award belongs to you

    This success is only possible because of you—our dedicated staff and volunteers. Whether you’re working front of house, behind the scenes, or anywhere in between, your passion, hard work, and warmth shape every visitor’s experience.

    We know how much pride and care you bring to what you do, and this award is a clear reflection of that.

    đŸ€ Powered by the bostin promise

    At the core of this win is our Bostin Promise—our commitment to providing a consistently outstanding visitor experience. This recognition reinforces how important that promise is and the difference it makes every day.

    📣 More to come…

    We’ll be sharing more in the coming days on how we plan to celebrate this news and communicate it with visitors, partners, and the wider community. Keep an eye out for updates!

    For now—thank you and congratulations. This win is yours, and it’s something we can all be immensely proud of.

  • Reminder: staff parking at the rear of Car Park 2

    Reminder: staff parking at the rear of Car Park 2

    We’d like to remind all staff that parking on the gravel area at the back of Car Park 2 is not permitted.

    This notice was originally posted on 10 March, but we are still seeing vehicles parked in this area. Parking here is making it difficult for coaches to manoeuvre and park safely.

    Please help us keep access clear by using the designated staff parking areas only.

    Thank you for your cooperation.

  • Coal study day – event

    Coal study day – event

    Our colleague Clare Weston would like to share with colleagues about this free all-day event, held at the Arts Building on the University of Birmingham campus or online, exploring Britain’s coal industry legacy. Historians, community members, and creatives will share how they research, represent, and remember coal’s impact and the communities it shaped.

    The day reflects on the fading physical reminders of coal mining and its environmental legacy, while examining themes of memory, commemoration, and storytelling.

    Event details:

    • Date: Monday 16 June 2025

    • Time: 10am to 6.30pm

    • Location: Arts Building, University of Birmingham (or attend online)

    • Cost: Free

    • Booking: Eventbrite link

    • Programme.

  • Les Millington (1946-2025)

    We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of one of our longstanding volunteers, Les Millington, who died on Wednesday 7th May.

    Les first joined the Museum in June 1995, initially as a member of the Friends of the Black Country Living Museum. Over the course of nearly 30 years, Les made a lasting contribution to the life and development of the Museum. His dedication was unwavering; he remained an active volunteer to the very end, even attending the Museum to volunteer in the weeks before he passed away.

    Many of you will remember Les as a familiar face in Pitts Cottage and the Providence Chapel, where he brought history to life as a historic character. However, in the early days of the Museum, Les also played a key role behind the scenes, helping to shape the Museum’s future. As part of the Friends, he was heavily involved in what would later become our Audience & Communications, Community Engagement, and Development teams – helping to drive forward the Museum’s growth and visibility. He continued to support these functions, which notably included attending Community Roadshows and outreach events. It wasn’t uncommon to find Les all over the country representing and promoting the Museum.

    We cannot of course mention Les without commenting on the fact that his involvement with the Museum was a partnership. His wife, Margaret, volunteered alongside him throughout those three decades. Together, they gave their time, energy, and passion to the Museum, and their joint commitment has left an impression that will be remembered with warmth, admiration, and gratitude. They also marked a special milestone this year, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in January. Margaret remains a volunteer with us and we look forward to welcoming her back to the Historic Character and Audience & Communications teams soon.

    Les leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service, friendship, and community spirit. His presence, we’re sure, will very much be missed by colleagues across the organisation. Our thoughts are with Margaret at this difficult time.

    Should anyone wish to send a card or message of condolence to Margaret, or wish to enquire about funeral arrangements, please speak to any member of the People Team or email [email protected].

    We understand this news may be upsetting. If you would like to talk, support is available through our Mental Health First Aiders on 07918 348919. You can also contact the EAP scheme by calling 0800 756 0861, quoting “Perkbox” and “Black Country Living Museum”.

  • People team – new office

    People team – new office

    Following the recent restructure, the People and Culture team is now called the People team. They’ve also been relocated to the Hartill’s offices. To find them: go to Hartill’s, walk upstairs to the reception area, continue straight ahead, and turn left – signage will help guide you.

    As part of these changes, the Leadership team has also moved. They’re now based in a different office on the opposite side of the space, directly opposite the kitchen.

    The People team’s post box will remain available and is now located just inside the entrance to Hartill’s on the ground floor.

  • Makaton Workshop

    Makaton Workshop

    As part of our ongoing commitment to Health & Wellbeing, we’re pleased to offer free Makaton classes to help raise awareness and build confidence in communicating with D/deaf colleagues, visitors, and members of the community.

    📅 When: Tuesday 10 June 2025, 5.30pm-6.30pm
    📍 Where: Classroom 1 (Learning Centre)
    đŸ’·Â Cost: Free

    Whether you’re a complete beginner or just looking to refresh your skills, these sessions are a great opportunity to learn something new and show your support for inclusive communication.

    To sign up, please email: [email protected]

    Let’s continue to build a more accessible and supportive workplace for everyone.

  • CCF Update

    CCF Update

    Following the nomination process, we are pleased to confirm the appointment of the following Colleague Consultative Forum (CCF) Representatives;

    Bryce Bealey – Historic Character constituency

    Kit Proctor – Casual constituency

    Tracy Ledward – Salaried constituency

    Current CCF Representatives are;

    Representative

    Constituency

    Lisa Bate

    Tracy Ledward

    Salaried

    Lisa Evans

    Enterprise

    Bryce Bealey

    Emily Banks

    Greg Dunn

    Historic Characters

    Kit Proctor

    Mitchell Robertson

    Casuals

    Karen Griffiths

    Volunteers

    As a reminder, vacancies still remain in the following constituencies;

    • Cleaning & Recycling x 1
    • Visitor Welcome & Admissions x 1
    • Volunteers x 1

    The above vacancies will remain open and should a nomination be received, we will recommence the nomination process.

    If you would like to be considered as a CCF Representative, you will need a colleague from the same constituency as you to propose your nomination and the name of another colleague, again within the same constituency, who seconds the nomination. To put yourself forward, please complete and return a nomination form to the People & Culture team (based at Canalside office) either by hand, deposited in the black post box outside the People & Culture office, or via email to [email protected].

  • Mental Health Awareness

    Mental Health Awareness

    As part of Mental Health Awareness Month and our ongoing commitment to Health & Wellbeing, we are able to offer support through Health 2 employment, in partnership with Able Futures, who are offering virtual or phone one-to-one consultation slots throughout May.

    These sessions are open to all colleagues who would like to learn more about the support available or discuss their mental health needs in confidence. The service is designed to help individuals have more good days than bad days by offering practical mental health support at no cost.

    Who Can Access the Service?

    You’re eligible if you:

    • Are aged 16 or over

    • Are employed or self-employed

    • Live in England, Wales, or Scotland

    • Experience a mental health issue (including self-diagnosed)

    Book a Consultation
    To arrange a free and confidential consultation, please follow the link below: 👉 Access to Work (Mental Health) – Book an Appointment — Health 2 Employment

    Feel free to share this with friends, family, or colleagues who might benefit.

  • Board Update: Chair Transition and New Trustee Appointments

    Board Update: Chair Transition and New Trustee Appointments

    Dr Paul Belford retired as Chair and Trustee of the Museum Board at the end of April. Paul had served on the Board since March 2014 and took on the role of Chair in December 2020. He has stepped down to focus on his growing freelance archaeology consultancy, which now includes an increasing amount of international work. We thank Paul for his many years of thoughtful leadership and service to the Museum.

    At its meeting on 24 April, the Board approved the appointment of Duncan Bedhall as Interim Chair. Duncan joined the Board in January 2018 and has chaired the Museum Enterprises Company since April 2021 — a role he will continue to hold. He is also a member of the Museum’s Financial Performance Scrutiny Committee.

    The Board has engaged Saxton Bampfylde, a leading executive search and leadership consultancy, to support the recruitment of a new Chair. Their extensive networks and sector expertise will help ensure we attract a wide and diverse field of high-calibre candidates. This search is a significant strategic priority for the Museum, and several of our current and incoming Trustees will be closely involved in the process. We aim to make an appointment by the end of July.

    Following an open recruitment process, we are pleased to announce that six new Trustees will join the Museum Board this year. Hasan Afzal, Dileep Marway, and Caroline Southall will begin their terms in June. Nicky Guy will join in August, and Emma Norris and Janet Chapman in October. We look forward to welcoming them and to the experience and insight they will bring. You’ll be able to learn more about our new trustees on our Board page online as they join the team.

    As part of a broader commitment to transparency and engagement, the Board is also looking at ways to create more opportunities for staff to present directly at Board and Committee meetings. This will help ensure a broader range of voices are heard in strategic discussions.