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Category: Key update

  • Association of Independent Museums – Statement on Ukraine

    Black Country Living Museum is a member of the Association of Independent Museums. In his capacity as Chair of the Association, Andrew has published the following statement on behalf of all AIM members.

    The Association of Independent Museums condemns the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military and stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

    We share the concern of the International Council of Museums’ (ICOM) regarding the risks faced by museum professionals in Ukraine, and the damage of this aggression on Ukraine’s material culture.

    Alongside all those in Ukraine we express our solidarity with museum colleagues and understand that AIM members will be seeking practical ways to offer help.

    As we explore how we might best approach that, we highlight some of those organisations coordinating international support, including

  • Ticket Swap Scheme 2022

    Some good news!

    We are delighted to confirm that not only is the ticket swap back, but we have been successful in adding some brilliant new partners to the scheme, in addition to the usual list we now have: The Snowdome, Twycross Zoo, Silverstone, Kenilworth Castle, Merlin (Sealife & Legoland), The Wolves Museum and Blenheim Palace. 

    For new colleagues, the ticket swap scheme is an annual ballot to obtain free tickets for one of the list below.  

    We have tickets for (family ticket or equivalent):

    Dudley Zoo (20x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Cadbury World (10x 2 adults, 2 children)

    West Midlands Safari Park (20x 2adults, 2 children)

    Stratford Butterfly Farm (20x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Sea Life Centre (15x 1 adult, 1 child)

    LEGOLAND Discovery Centre (15x 1 adult, 1 child)

    Hoo Zoo (20x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Wolves FC Museum (5x 2 adults, 2 children)

    National Space Centre (10x 2,adults, 2 children)

    Kenilworth Castle (15x 2 adults, 2 children)

    Twycross Zoo (15x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Think Tank (20x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Silverstone Museum (20x 2 adults, 2 children)

    Blenheim Palace (20x 2 adults, 2 children)

    The Snowdome (20x activity for family of 6)

    Wookey Hole Resort (15x 2 adults, 2 children)

    Dudley Canal Trust (15x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Crich Tramway Village (20x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Warwick Castle (5x 2 adults,2 children + 2x 2 adults, 3 children)

    Ballot slips are available from Reception and from the People & Culture Team. Please return ballot slips in the black post boxes located by main Reception or outside the People & Culture Office no later than Monday 28th March by 6pm. Any ballot slips received after this time will not be included in the ballot on Tuesday 29th March 2022. 

     

  • 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.

  • BCLM’s latest TV appearances

    BCLM’s latest TV appearances

    BCLM has been featured on national TV several times this month!

    It was our pleasure to welcome BBC’s The One Show and BBC Midlands presenter Trish Adudu to the Museum last week, to discuss the upcoming series of Peaky Blinders and its effect on culture and tourism in Birmingham and the Black Country. Our Director of Programmes Carol King spoke to Trish about the series’ lasting legacy with the Museum and the success of our Peaky Blinders Nights.

    You can catch up with the episode, which originally aired on Friday 24 Feb, here which will be available for 1 month.

    We also welcomed Tony Robinson to the Museum back in 2020 to film his latest series, a History of Britain. In the episode around the Edwardians, Tony discussed the history of chainmaking in Cradley Heath and celebrated the story of Patience Round. Historic character Carole Davies starred in the piece and did a fantastic job of introducing the history of the lady chainmakers. The Museum was also used as a location to help tell some of the other stories in the episode.

    You can catch up on the episode, which originally aired on Saturday 12 Feb, here.

     

  • ‘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.

  • People News Update 24/02/2022

    People News Update 24/02/2022

    Welcomes

    We are pleased to welcome David Kruczek who has joined the Museum as our new Central Kitchen Manager. David brings over 10 years of hospitality experience and has a key role in supporting the Museum catering operation.

    Claire Robinson has joined our Interpretation & Research Team, as an Interpretation Coordinator. Claire has relocated to the region from Scotland, where she worked as a Collections & Exhibitions Curator for the University of St Andrews.

    Early next week, Laura Gibson will be joining the Collections Team as a Collections Coordinator. Laura brings a wealth of experience from the Science Museum Group where she worked with, reviewed, inventoried and researched their collection.

    We are also pleased to welcome Martin Meads and Andrew Smith who will be supporting our Site Conservation, Transport & Maintenance team as Painter/Decorators. Both Martin & Andrew will be on site from early next week.

  • Annual Leave – Important Information

    Please find below an update in regards to the Museum’s annual leave policy and provisions.

    Annual Leave Entitlement

    We are pleased to confirm that the Museum will be honoring the additional bank holiday to mark the Queen’s Jubilee and this will be included in to the 2022/2023 annual leave entitlement. As a result, holiday entitlement for the 2022/2023 holiday year will increase to 34 days for full time staff and will be pro-rata for part time staff. We will reflect this against your leave entitlement on Myhrtoolkit and Planday.

    Annual Leave Policy

    The Annual Leave policy has been updated to include reference to Myhrtoolkit for annual leave requests for salaried staff and also provides greater clarity on potential exceptional circumstances for Carry Over of Annual Leave requests. You can view the policy here.

    Annual Leave Buy & Sell Scheme

    Employees are now able to submit requests to purchase additional annual leave or sell annual leave for the 2022/2023 leave year. Please note the maximum amount of annual leave an employee may buy or sell is the equivalent of one contractual week, however, the total holiday entitlement inclusive of any carry over or purchase of holiday cannot exceed 38 days for full time employees or the equivalent for part time employees. This means for the 2022/2023 leave year a full time employee who will be entitled to 34 days may only submit a request to purchase 4 days holiday.

    Employees who wish to make a request must familiarise themselves with the Museum’s Buying & Selling Annual Leave Scheme and complete a Buying & Selling Annual Leave Form which can be found here. Requests under the scheme will require approval from the employee’s line manager and the People & Culture Team.

    If the request to buy or sell annual leave is approved, employees will be notified of the resulting change in their monthly salary. Adjustments in pay as a result of the scheme will commence from April, for a period of 12 months.

    Requests must be received by the People & Culture team by no later than Friday 11 March 2022.

    Requests to Carry Over Annual Leave

    As a reminder, ordinarily untaken leave cannot be carried forward into the next leave year and will be lost. However, in exceptional circumstances a maximum of one contractual week may be carried over from one holiday year to the next. Please note that the total holiday entitlement inclusive of carry over (if approved) cannot exceed 38 days for full time employees or the equivalent for part time employees.

    Approval must be sought from an employee’s line manager and the People & Culture Team if an employee wishes to carry forward any annual leave into the next leave year. Employees should complete a Carry Over of Annual Leave Request Form which can be found here.

    All requests for carry over of annual leave usually need to be submitted 4 weeks prior to the of the leave year, however, it has been agreed outside of our usual policy that all requests are submitted by no later than Friday 11 March 2022.

    If you have any queries in relation to the Museum’s annual leave policy or the Buy & Sell Scheme please contact the People & Culture team ([email protected])

  • 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