The Annual Review: 31 December 2022 is now available to view online.
Category: General News
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We want your greenery!
Do you have rampant ivy or holly that needs pruning?
Do you have excess Christmas/ fir tree cuttings?
Or do you have other evergreen materials you can spare?
To support the workshops on Tuesday 14th November and Wednesday 15th November where we will be making decorations for the site – we need masses of lovely fresh seasonal greenery. If you have a garden, an allotment or access to any lush Christmassy greenery – don’t get snipping just yet.
We’d love you to bring in whatever you have from Friday 10th – Monday 13th November. If you have an allotment, it might be worth putting the call out to other plot holders – as we can never have too much!
There will be buckets for you to pop the stems in to keep them nice and fresh at the compound at the top of site. The fresher the better so if you can leave it as late as possible to cut them and put it in water straight after cutting, we can make sure our wreaths, garlands and table decorations are as fresh and perky as possible for the festive season.
Did you know the longest lasting and most festive of the greenery is beech, oak, rose hips, pine, old man’s beard, spruce, conifer, holly, ivy, fir, magnolia, hops and rosemary? We also welcome any pine cones or other festive finds. What a good excuse for a ramble in the woods!
During the festive period, once buildings are decorated, if you are working in historic buildings and you are looking for greenery to refresh your building, please contact the Collections team. If you have any questions about decorating the buildings for Christmas, please speak to the Collections team or email [email protected].
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Opportunity for Historic Characters
As part of our ongoing commitment to improving the visitor experience, we are about to launch a second cohort of character development work with historic characters.
This work builds on the work of the 2022 cohort and the work we have been doing throughout Forging Ahead to better understand and improve our engagement with visitors. Up to 10 people will work with Black Country Touring, for approximately 2 weeks w/c 27th November.
We are looking for a range of people with diverse experience, whilst working at BCLM and/or elsewhere. We are asking participants to bring their thoughts, opinions and insight to the table. We are not looking for a group who might consider themselves “performers”, “actors” or who are looking to be trained in these areas, but rather people who have a common goal in wanting to develop and harness the strengths of the Historic Character team. We would especially like to hear from people interested in a creative and collaborative process, visitor focused and are passionate about telling the stories of the Black Country.
You will be…
- Open minded and willing to contribute positively to a collaboration that will experiment with the most impactful ways of interacting with our visitors
- Have an interest in the visitor experience and be open to hearing and responding to feedback from their perspective
- Be available to work from 10-4pm for a total of 8 days across Monday – Sunday between November 27th to December 10th
- Have experience of and enthusiasm for engaging and interacting with visitors (not necessarily at BCLM) in and out of character
If you would like further information, please look here. If you have any questions get in touch with Izzy Taylor [email protected]
If you are interested in taking part in the next cohort to share and develop your engagement skills, please read below and complete the short Expression of Interest form by no later than Thursday 9th November, 5pm.
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Mental Health First Aider – Now Closed
Please note, we are not accepting any further expressions of interest as this position has now closed.
As part of the Museum’s continued commitment to the Health & Wellbeing of our colleagues, we are keen to increase our representation of Mental Health First Aiders to ensure all colleagues have an accessible Mental Health First Aider that they feel comfortable talking to.
Our current team of Mental Health First Aiders are largely office based colleagues who identify as female, therefore interest from colleagues who are in roles based on site and/or identify as a gender other than female are particularly welcome.
As a Mental Health First Aider, you will be the first port of call if a colleague appears to be in distress or is experiencing a crisis. You will be required to act compassionately and in confidence, as well as signpost to appropriate guidance or organisations that may help colleagues to address their concerns.
This is not an easy role; it can and will be very challenging. It requires individuals to be resilient, robust and most of all have the skills to listen and support colleagues, for this reason all applicants will be subject to a selection process.
If you are interested in becoming a Mental Health First Aider please send your expression of interest to [email protected] with a brief explanation as to why you wish to take on this role. The closing date for expressions of interest is Wednesday 8th November.
Please note that this opportunity is available to contracted staff only (who have successfully completed their probationary period) and the training will be online. You will need to be available for all of the sessions which will take place on: Wednesday 24 January 2024, Thursday 25 January 2024, Wednesday 31 January 2024 and Thursday 1 February 2024 from 9:30am – 1:30pm.
Thank you.
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Christmas 2023 Pay Arrangements
Please note that the December 2023 pay date will be on Friday 22 December 2023 for all staff. For hourly paid staff, this will include the four weeks ending Sunday 17 December 2023.
January 2024 pay will be paid on Friday 26 January 2024. For hourly paid staff, this will include the five weeks ending Sunday 21 January 2024
It is important to note that there will five weeks between the December and January pay dates.
A reminder that the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) scheme, which provides advice and tools on a number of matters including tools to manage finances, is available to all colleagues. You can access the EAP service by calling 0800 756 0861 and quoting “Perkbox” and “Black Country Living Museum”. Alternatively you can access the EAP portal via the Perkbox app/webpage. Through Perkbox, you can also access a wide range of discounts on the items you already buy, helping you to make your money go further.
If you would like any further information on Perkbox please contact [email protected]
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Health & Wellbeing: investing in our colleagues
Over the last 2 weeks, we’ve hosted two colleague activities for everyone to get involved with, our quiz night in the Elephant & Castle Pub and wreath making in the Cricktfield Brickworks.
We want to thank everyone who attended and got involved ✨
There will be more activities hosted by the Health & Wellbeing Group for colleagues to get involved in, please keep an eye out on the Intranet and your internal monthly newsletter.
What’s on next?
Eighties Bostin’ Bash – Monday 6th November 2023, 6pm onwards
RSVP: Please RSVP by Monday 30th October!
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World Menopause Day: Embrace the Change
In celebration of World Menopause Day (18 October), we are launching our new Menopause Working Group!
As part of our ongoing commitment to colleague wellbeing, we are pleased to announce a new working group, focused on providing training and support, for menopause.
Menopause is a significant life stage that affects a large percentage of our colleagues. It is the point in time that marks the end of a person’s menstrual cycles. While it is a natural process, it can sometimes bring challenges that impact both personal and professional aspects of an individual’s life. By fostering a better understanding of menopause and its effects, we aim to create a more supportive and inclusive workplace environment.
The role of the Menopause Working Group:
At the Menopause Working Group, our mission is to create a workplace environment where every colleague feels informed, valued, and supported as they navigate the various stages of menopause. We aim to provide extensive information and foster an open dialogue around menopause, ensuring that no colleague feels isolated during this significant period in their life.
What progress have we made so far?
- A brand-new menopause policy
- Collated a list of resources that can extend your knowledge and understanding of menopause
- Have now provided complimentary sanitary products in colleague toilets
- In progress: a route for visitors to receive complimentary sanitary products for emergencies while on site – look out for our “Ask Bab” notices coming soon in both the Worker’s Institute and Visitor Centre toilets
- Arranged for all colleagues to receive in-person menopause training in the January Shutdown
- Arranged for Line Managers to receive training (both in-person and online) to further understand menopause and how to spot the signs, offering support to those that may require this to take place in late November. A Manager Menopause Guidebook is also in progress and will be ready to share at the training
- Nominated two interim menopause champions: Rory Shannon (Enterprise Manager) and Jo Turner (Executive Assistant).
In the pipeline:
- In early next year, we plan to host voluntary drop-in sessions on menopause and other related matters, e.g. endometriosis, early menopause, menopause and race, menopause and transgender, living with someone going through the menopause and general menopause discussion groups
- We are building on resources, including podcasts, support groups and useful apps, to support a range of menopause matters
- Identify additional menopause champions
What are our commitments to you?
- Confidential support will be available, including Perkbox’s Museum Employee Assistance Scheme (EAP), Mental Health First Aiders, and of course our new team representatives. Ensuring employees have a safe space to ask questions and seek guidance
- Create awareness through visuals to break down taboos and promote open conversations (available in rest areas)
- Educational training, including workshops and seminars, will become available soon to provide accurate information about menopause and its effects
What we need from you:
- Would you like to be a menopause champion? Get in touch at [email protected]
- Let us know of any good practice you have come across, as it could be transferred to our Menopause Working Group. Get in touch at [email protected]
- Please thoroughly read the menopause policy once it has been launched
The Menopause Working Group
- Sukhi Baden – Head of People and Culture
- Jo Turner – Executive Assistant
- Kate Kirkpatrick – Corporate Sales and Development Manager
- Annie-Rose Pitman – Digital and Marketing Administrator
- Izzy Taylor – Public Programming Manager
- Rory Shannon – Enterprise Manager
- Bryce Beasley – Historic Character
[embeddoc url=”http://intranet.bclm.com/wp-content/uploads/BCLM-Menopause-Policy.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”]
[embeddoc url=”http://intranet.bclm.com/wp-content/uploads/Menopause-Working-Group-Resources.pdf” download=”all” viewer=”google”]
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Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre & Cast Iron Houses – story notes
These story notes are a great resource for understanding the history of Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre & Cast Iron Houses. Therefore, please take some time to read them thoroughly.
Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre
If you have any questions, please contact the Interpretation and Research team (located in Canalside).
Thank you.
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Save the Date: Staff Excursion on Monday 11th March 2024!
We’re pleased to announce an exciting staff excursion opportunity on Monday 11th March 2024.
This will be a chance to ride the fastest zip wire in the world at Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales. At speeds of up to 100mph, this promises to be a thrilling experience!
The approximate cost per person is £120. This covers transport and the zip wire experience.
Spaces are limited so if you’re interested in joining us for this adrenaline-filled excursion, please email [email protected] at your earliest convivence.
This is trip is organised by Steve Grainger and Michelle Darby, please contact them directly if you have any questions.
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Our bostin’ Black Country babbies
A huge thank you to everyone who helped Audiences & Communications with our ’75 babies’ press event today to celebrate the upcoming opening of our replica of Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre.
It was a really fantastic morning; we had so many lovely Black Country babies and the reaction has been absolutely brilliant.
Look out for press coverage in the next few days!
