Andrew has recorded a short video to update colleagues on the latest Museum news.
In the video below Andrew talks about the beginning of major works on Forging Ahead and gives an initial response to the publication of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
Further information on plans for re-opening will follow as soon as possible, so please do keep a look out for intranet updates and notifications via PlanDay.
As a reminder to all colleagues, we’re hosting virtual coffee catch ups every Wednesday between 2.30-4.00pm on Microsoft Teams – via this joining link.
We’re pleased to share with you that major works for our new development, Forging Ahead, are now commencing! For a refresher on what the project is all about, please take a look at our latest video on the project.
BCLM has been awarded a Heritage Capital Grant from the Capital Kickstart Fund (as part of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund). We’re one of 22 heritage organisations to have received investment from the Fund today (19 Feb).
These grants, administered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), are for organisations with projects that are already funded; but that have experienced disruption due to the pandemic. Investment from DCMS and NLHF now means that work on the project can begin in earnest.
Please look out for the Museum on local news, including BBC Midlands Today at 6.30pm on Fri 19 Feb. The public article on our News Page is here.
Forging Ahead is one development in a much bigger scheme to regenerate Dudley and boost the economy of the wider West Midlands. To find out more about the broader plans for the future in the area, visit Regenerating Dudley’s website.
We hope everyone has been keeping safe and well and enjoying the sight of the snowy landscape, if not necessarily the temperature!
In this update we wanted to focus on the positive role that the Museum is still playing in the community despite our closure to visitors.
The Vaccination Centre
The Vaccination Centre continues to run successfully; approximately 1,000 per day, seven days a week, are receiving their vaccination at the Museum and contributing to the total of more than 12.6m people who have received their first dose of the vaccine so far in the UK.
The Vaccination Centre also continues to make positive headlines too; BBC Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen received his vaccination at BCLM last week. You can see the report below:
The Community Engagement team have taken some of their programme online to ensure that the Museum can still connect with audiences during lockdown. A new monthly series of ‘Access Heritage’ films will launch from Thursday 11 February as an alternative to on-site specialist tours for visually impaired and deaf visitors. The films are designed to be accessible and can be enjoyed by all audiences. Visit BCLM’s YouTube channel from 11 February to see the first set of films. This month’s content is themed around Valentine’s Day and features some surprising objects from the Museum’s collection.
Work with community partners such as our Access Panel also continues, including the ‘Me, Myself and I’ group which supports carers and their family members living with dementia.
Once a month the Community Engagement team participate in the talking therapies sessions offered by ‘Me, Myself and I’ where a Historic Character will make phone calls and sing songs and share traditional Black Country stories to a range of vulnerable older people who are lonely and isolated. Through this work the Museum continues to reach out and make a difference to so many local people’s lives. Thank you to all colleagues who are providing their time and support to this vital initiative.
Connecting through Virtual Coffee & Catch Ups
Within our own Museum community, the People & Culture team piloted virtual coffee and catch up sessions last week (w/c 1 Feb) which proved a real success both in terms of participation and feedback. We’re offering more of these sessions over the coming weeks as a way of helping colleagues to connect with each other and share their experiences. You can find more details here. If you have any feedback, or would like to suggest a theme/share helpful advice at one of these future sessions, please do get in touch via [email protected].
As ever, we’d also be delighted to hear how our colleagues are passing the time; any tips and stories would be very welcome. Please do send your experiences to [email protected] and perhaps we can share these with your permission.
We know that colleagues are still connecting with each other, be that through virtual coffee mornings, or through checking-in in other ways. We’d encourage everyone to stay in touch and support each other in whichever way works best for them during this time.
Thank you to all who joined our virtual meetups last week for a cuppa and a catch up, all in relation to ‘Time to Talk Day’.
Following the incredibly positive feedback we received from these sessions, we’re delighted to start hosting virtual meetups on a weekly basis from now until the end of March, at which point we hope that the Museum will be able to reopen.
When will the virtual meetups take place?
These meetups will be hosted every Wednesday 2.30pm – 4pm on Microsoft Teams.
Please note that the occurrence of these meetings may change depending on popularity/demand.
What is the purpose of these virtual meetups?
Although we’re not yet able to catch up face-to-face, meeting like this virtually means we can still grab a cuppa and have a friendly chat with our colleagues about what we’ve been up to recently. Simply put, we want to fill the socialisation gap that many of us are currently missing due to being on furlough or working from home.
Who are these virtual meetups for?
All BCLM staff, whether contracted or casual, are welcome to join in on these sessions.
How do I join?
Click this joining link to join the meeting. We recommend that you attempt to join no earlier than 5 minutes prior to the meeting start time.
If you’re joining using a desktop computer or laptop, follow the above link and select the option ‘Continue on this browser’ once the webpage loads.
If you’re joining using a smartphone or tablet, following the above link will ask you to download the Microsoft Teams app. Please note that you will be required to download the app in order to join via a mobile device.
Our Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAs) are still available for a confidential chat. They are able to listen if you simply want to share your concerns, but are also able to direct you to further appropriate support if needed. Some of our MHFAs are furloughed, but the following are working and are happy to be contacted via email:
If you’d like to find out more about our MHFAs before you get in touch, please visit this intranet post to have a read of their bios; to get to know them a bit more and learn why they decided to become a MHFA.
As a reminder, the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) scheme is available for all. The EAP offers 24/7 support on a range of topics, including mental health, overall wellbeing, financial and legal support, etc. You can access this service by calling 0800 015 7287 and quoting “Black Country Living Museum”. Alternatively you can access the online portal by visiting www.colleaguesupport.co.uk, using ‘72160’ as your username and password.
This week we’re able to share the wonderful news that the Vaccination Centre at the Museum is now operational and delivering immunisation to the local community.
People in priority groups have begun to receive their vaccinations and the Museum is helping to support the NHS in its continued efforts to accelerate the vaccine roll out. The Museum centre has the capacity to serve around 1,000 patients per day and so will add a significant boost to the NHS’s ability to drive vaccination take-up in the area.
The NHS will contact people directly to notify them of their eligibility for the vaccine in order of the priority groups set out by the Government. The NHS are currently contacting people within the first four groups to attend a vaccination appointment, either at a centre like that at the Museum, or via their local GP practice (graphic below).
Vaccination Priority List
People must wait for their notification from the NHS and then book their appointment directly with the NHS vaccination service. The Museum is unable to make bookings, or respond to enquiries. Should you have friends and family who are asking about their vaccination, please encourage them to visit the Government website here for more information until they are contacted by the NHS.
The NHS team have also filmed a video of the Museum vaccination centre to help patients familiarise themselves with the process when they arrive for the vaccine. For Museum colleagues, the video below is not just useful information, but will also give you an idea of how part of the Museum has been transformed to host this important service:
NHS Vaccination Centre at Black Country Living Museum
For colleagues who need to be on-site at the Museum for essential work, and who may need to pass through the Rolfe Street entrance, please make sure you identify yourself as a member of staff to NHS stewards on the door. This will help the NHS team manage entrance and avoid any confusion with the flow of patients attending to receive a vaccine. Please remember that each Museum colleague will be invited to a vaccination appointment in line with the priority list above (either at a local vaccination centre, or GP). BCLM staff do not qualify for prioritisation as a result of the Museum hosting the centre.
Colleagues interested in volunteering with the NHS to support the running of the centre can find details on how to apply here.
The Museum has received lots of positive press coverage as a result of hosting the vaccine centre. You can see some of the reporting here and hear Natasha Eden on BBC Radio WM talking about the centre on launch day via the audio file below:
Despite the positive news of the vaccination roll out, everyone remains affected by the pandemic. If you need someone to talk to, please refer to this intranet post which has links to resources available to BCLM colleagues.
Although the Museum may currently be closed to visitors, we are still able to support health and wellbeing of the local community. Thank you to all colleagues for making this possible now and over the coming months.
As we enter the third UK national lockdown, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of the support available for all colleagues at BCLM. We now have team of 12 Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) to offer support through these very challenging times.
Some of our MHFAs are currently furloughed, but the following are working, and are happy to support as appropriate. If you click on their names you will see a brief bio of each MHFA. If you do decide to reach out to any of the MHFAs, please be assured that your contact and discussion will remain confidential between the two of you. They are able to listen if you simply want to share your concerns, but are also able to direct you to further appropriate support if you need it.
” Hi, my name is Dawn. Many of you have seen me around the Museum, but for those who haven’t, I am part of the Finance Team.
I have worked at the Museum since 2001 – starting in the Sales and Ticketing (Bookings) Office.
I am currently studying for my AAT Level 3 at Dudley College, and enjoy volunteering with my daughter, at the Greyhound Trust on a Sunday, walking and feeding the dogs and cleaning their kennels.
At the moment, we are still able to volunteer, and getting out has helped with our mental health during this pandemic.
I am married and have two teenage children, and two greyhounds at home. Life is never dull!
Being a Mental Health First Aider is very close to my heart, and I want people to know there is always someone there and to never feel alone. “
” Hi I’m Hayley, I work in the People & Culture Team and I have worked at the Museum for over a year.
Alongside full-time work, I am studying part time for my Level 7 CIPD Advance Diploma in Human Resource Management. This requires me to have strong organisational and time management skills to effectively manage my priorities at work and in my studies.
In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit, walking and spending time with my family and friends.
COVID-19 has disrupted important milestones and caused a lot of anxiety and stress for all of us. For me in particular, there has been significant disruption to my studies and I was faced with the difficult decision of postponing my wedding just a couple of months before I was due to get married.
I became a MHFA to provide support to my colleagues and to help the Museum in its commitment to creating a health working environment. “
” Hi – I’m Jo and I’ve been Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive at the Museum for the past 5 ½ years, also providing support to the Board of Trustees and Leadership Team. Previous to this I worked for children’s charities, supporting management and key workers with projects and services for young people, sometimes dealing with challenging and often traumatic issues. One of the projects I supported introduced young people to new activities and experiences to help improve their mental health.
Finding what brings you joy, what’s meaningful to you that gets you through the day or helps with a difficult situation can be really powerful. For me, what’s got me through the last year and what helps with my own anxiety, has been staying connected to others, practising yoga and getting creative with crafts and DIY at home. Getting outside more has also helped and I’m currently attempting the Couch-to-5K scheme to help improve my fitness.
I also currently mentor 2 admin professionals outside of work, supporting them with the challenges they face in their roles, with personal issues and with their thoughts and hopes about the future.
I wanted to become a Mental Health First Aider to support colleagues with their own wellbeing and to help the Museum with its commitment to creating a happy and healthy workforce. “
” Hello, I’m Kate and I’ve worked at BCLM for just over 3 years as the Business Development Manager looking after venue hire, Business Partners and filming.
As well as working full time, I’m a Mom to 3, although 2 of my children are older and self-sufficient, they often still need their Mom! Juggling home and work life can be tricky and can bring many challenges, I’m grateful for the flexibility BCLM offers in order to manage this.
Exercise is a big deal in my day to day life. I love group workouts, indoor and outdoor cycling, walking and yoga. More recently these have been home workouts! It’s been a challenge to stay on top of this during lockdown, whilst out of routine and normal structure, but the days I get some exercise in are always the best days, even if it’s just a walk in nature somewhere!
Having experienced anxiety and depression for many years, I have found regular exercise and healthy eating plays an enormous part in keeping me on track. Being there for friends and family in the past using tools I’ve armed myself with, I am passionate about supporting people who struggle with their mental health. Having recently completed the Mental Health First Aider course, this has strengthened my ability to support colleagues who may need a hand or more importantly an understanding ear. “
” Hi, I’m Liz, Sales and Ticketing Manager and have worked at the museum for over 5 years in various roles.
In my own time I am studying for a BSc Psychology and Counselling degree. In previous jobs I’ve worked in a young person’s residential home providing mental health support and I’ve grown up with family members who work in similar professions.
I have an interest in genealogy, photography, which I had the perfect opportunity to work on during the lockdown and caring for several rescue cats and a rabbit which keeps me busy.
I wanted to become a MHFA because I believe there is a real need for a mental health support network in the workplace. “
NHS One You: For Your Body – useful resources to help you make better lifestyle choices for a healthier you
MHFA: Address Your Stress – a toolkit for tackling stress, including simple self-care tips, understanding your Stress Container, and a weekly wellbeing check-up
Mental Health First Aid England have created the below video to offer guidance for ways to support your mental health while working from home:
Whilst gyms and restaurants are closed at the moment, we would like to remind you that the Reward Gateway’s “Move” and “Munch” sections have some great videos for at-home workouts and great recipes to try out, respectively.
As always the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) scheme is available for all. The EAP offers 24/7 support on a range of topics, including mental health, overall wellbeing, financial and legal support, etc. You can access this service by calling 0800 015 7287 and quoting “Black Country Living Museum”. Alternatively you can access the online portal by visiting www.colleaguesupport.co.uk, using ‘72160’ as your username and password.
We would be delighted to hear how our colleagues are passing the time; any tips and stories would be very welcome. Please do send your experiences to [email protected] and perhaps we can share these with your permission.
Finally, we’d like to remind all colleagues to continue to let us know if you test positive for COVID-19 and/or if you have had the COVID-19 Vaccine, again please email [email protected].
As you are aware, an area of the Museum site is to be used as an NHS Vaccination Centre against COVID19 from Mon 25 Jan.
There will likely be news coverage about the Vaccination Centre over the weekend, however, the NHS have requested that we don’t make any public comment confirming the opening date until the centre goes live on Monday. Therefore, the launch date remains confidential until then.
More information about the NHS’s national vaccination programme can be found on their website here.
In line with clear Government guidance as regards non-essential travel, staff should continue to only be on-site for essential reasons. These are currently identified as: supporting duty management duties, animal care, Forging Ahead, NHS vaccination centre assistance, filming support, maintenance, and any other one-off tasks that are deemed essential and which cannot be completed from home. If you are required on site for any reason this should be agreed in advance with your line manager. To avoid additional footfall in the admissions building, please access the Museum via the green pedestrian access gate if you are required to work on site (unless you are working in Rolfe St offices).
Anyone who is required to be on site on Mon 25 Jan must not park vehicles on site – please use the main Museum car park.
Following extensive trials, the first safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine has been approved in the UK and is now being delivered to priority groups.
The NHS now need volunteers to step forward in the continued fight against coronavirus and help to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme. They are looking to recruit from local communities so they are able to provide a safe and effective vaccination programme while continuing to offer timely access and minimal impact on other NHS services.
Volunteers form an integral part of the team working at either an existing NHS estate or a temporary standalone service within a local community. You will have the opportunity to work indoors or outdoors, supporting people attending one of the vaccination centres across The Black Country and West Birmingham.
The time you dedicate to this role will be flexible and hours offered will depend on site opening times. The NHS will endeavour to find a site as close to your home as possible.
This opportunity is NOT being offered by the Museum. Do NOT contact anyone at BCLM regarding this opportunity as we will not be able to provide any further information than what is listed above.
The terms of the Staff Consultative Forum constitution determine that representatives can only stand for two terms, and as a result we would like to invite nominations for the following Constituent posts from all contracted staff:
Enterprise (Food & Drink, Admissions, Retail) x 2
Historic Characters x 2
Maintenance x 1
As a reminder, here are the current Staff Representatives on the Forum:
Constituency
Staff Representative(s)
Administrative, Specialist & Managerial
Tim Hamilton
Steven Hearn
Enterprise (F&D, Admissions, Retail)
Vacancy x 2
Historic Characters
Lee Adams
Vacancy x 2
Maintenance
Vacancy x 1
Casuals
Megan Hartshorne
The Forum plays a key communication and discussion role in many significant matters affecting all colleagues across the Museum. The Forum meet quarterly and the meetings are chaired by either the Chief Executive or the Chief Operating Officer.
If you would like to be considered as a Staff Representative, you will need a colleague from the same Constituency as you to propose your nomination and the name of another staff member, again within the same Constituency, who seconds the nomination.
Given the current circumstances, we will accept email nominations and emails to second that nomination if you are unable to complete the nomination form. If you would like more information about the role of the Forum please email [email protected] or [email protected].
The closing date for nominations is Friday 29 January 2021. Elections will be held following this date if we have multiple candidates for a single role.
Unsure about which Constituency you fall under? Check the Constituencies paper saved on the Intranet (Museum Documents/Information/SCF Constituencies) or email [email protected].
All contracted colleagues are eligible to apply with the exception of the Leadership Team.
We would finally like to thank our outgoing representatives; Tom Law, Sheila Chamberlain-Hyett, Liz Peters, and Joy Oliver, as well as Peter Harrold who will be stepping down in April, for their honest and dedicated contribution to the Forum over the years.
In response to the latest national lockdown, the Museum will now remain closed until the end of March. We are currently planning to re-open at the beginning of the school Easter Holidays from 1 April 2021.
Our re-opening is likely to happen under a tier system: the conditions of which will determine the kind of visitor programme we can offer. We’ll communicate further information on the programme as Government guidance emerges over the coming weeks. Training scheduled for January, therefore, will now be re-organised as appropriate given the revised timeline for opening.
We were fortunate to receive financial support from Arts Council England and the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund in 2020. Therefore, the Museum’s financial position is more secure than during the first lockdown before Government support was put in place. Nevertheless, we will continue to review our position alongside the ongoing covid restrictions and associated impact on our programme and visitor numbers.
Flexible furlough will continue for colleagues who are visitor-facing, unable to work from home, or who have caring responsibilities, and those whose workload is reduced due to the Museum’s closure. In line with previous communication on flexible furlough, should you be required to return to work a member of your management team will be in touch to discuss and agree a work pattern with you.
In line with clear Government guidance as regards non-essential travel, staff will only be on-site for essential reasons. These are currently identified as: supporting duty management duties, animal care, Forging Ahead, NHS vaccination centre assistance, filming support, maintenance, and any other one-off tasks that are deemed essential and which cannot be completed from home.
The People & Culture team are working and are contactable if you have any questions, or require support. Please either email [email protected] , or any member of the team individually if you would like a conversation. All conversations will be treated in confidence. As a reminder to all colleagues, should you test positive for the virus please inform the People & Culture team – even if you’re currently furloughed. Please could you also inform the People & Culture team if and when you have received the covid vaccine. We request this so that the Museum can fulfil its obligations around duty of care, and also so that an appropriate return-to-work plan can be put in place for you in the run up to re-opening.
You will be contacted about reducing holiday balances as the holiday year 20/21 will draw to a close while we are closed. Please support your manager with this task. As a reminder, any holiday taken is paid at 100% of pay, including during furlough.
The NHS vaccine centre is planned to be operational from w/c 25 January and there may be opportunities for colleagues to volunteer with the NHS to support the centre. Further communication on this will follow. Please note that this date is still confidential and not to be shared publicly.
We are very aware of the continuing impact of this public health emergency on all colleagues. Therefore, during this period of lockdown we will issue All Staff communications on a fortnightly basis; please do check the intranet for latest updates and stay in touch.
