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Category: Key update

  • Temporary Homeworking: Self-Declaration Required

    Following the recent UK Government announcement of a third national lockdown, anyone who has not already done so, please ensure that you read and understand the BCLM Temporary Homeworking Policy and complete an online self-declaration form if you expect to be working either some or all of your working hours at home during this period.

    Please also note that you may be able to claim tax relief while working from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19). You can view the full guidance on the gov.uk website to see if this is applicable to you.

  • Updated Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedures

    Updated Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedures

    The Fire and Emergency Evacuation Procedures have been updated to include ACT guidance on dealing with bomb threats and on responding to weapons/firearms attacks. The new procedures can be found in the intranet documents here.

    The guidance is in line with the “Run, Hide, Tell” posters already found on the notice boards in staff areas. Staff should be assured that there is no increased threat to the Museum and the additions are to make sure that we are considering all emergency situations that may arise. All staff should familiarise themselves with the procedures so that they can take appropriate action in an emergency.

  • Museum update: training postponed

    Museum update: training postponed

    We hope you and your families have had a restful Christmas period. 

    Following last night’s Government’s announcement of a new national lockdown, we can confirm that the planned training in January will now not take place as advised in December.  Further information regarding this training, and future plans for re-opening will be communicated later on in January.

    Can we also please remind anyone returning to work in January that you should work from home and only return to the site if advised to.

    Thank you.

  • An end of year message from Andrew

    An end of year message from Andrew

    As 2020 comes to a close, Andrew shares his reflections on a tumultuous and transformative year for the Museum and what lies ahead. Follow the link below to watch on YouTube.

    If you are having trouble viewing the video please see below for the transcript.

    “2020 has been a year that we’re not going to forget, are we? And nor should we actually, really, because it’s had impacts both personally and professionally on the Museum. But, I think we’ve adapted tremendously well, and we’ve worked together tremendously well. You know, I’ve always regarded the Museum as a stage upon which we tell stories, and despite COVID I think we’ve adapted tremendously well to make that stage even livelier than we normally do, and I thank you all for that.

    Do you know, the response we’ve had from visitors and from people who follow us on all the social media channels and get in touch with us has been heartening, actually, even during times when we’ve been closed. Actually it’s given us great comfort that we’re doing the right thing, and that when things get back to normal they’ll be there for us and I’ve found that tremendously supportive.

    This year we’ll have only welcomed around 90,000 visitors, that’s something like about 75% less than we normally would – but we’ve given a great experience for them, and I think it’s been tremendously helpful to be open as much as we possibly can be. But, only welcoming 90,000 visitors as you well know has had a huge impact on our finances. We’ve had to have financial support from the taxpayer of about 5 million pounds, and sometimes I’ve felt like Oliver Twist, actually, just having our hand out all the time, wanting more and more to keep us going. But, we’ve all made sacrifices, and I think through those sacrifices we’ve put ourselves in as best a position as we possibly can be for the future. It feels like we’ve all pulled together.

    It seems ironic, doesn’t it, the last twist of the year is that we’re now being set up as a vaccination centre for COVID, and I expect that to happen early in the new year.

    Forging Ahead is continuing on, particularly the design work, and I hope to have some good news about that in the coming days and weeks. It feels like Forging Ahead is even more important to our future than maybe it did in the past.

    So for now, I wish you a very Happy Christmas wherever you are, and whoever you can be with and I hope for better times in the new year. Thanks very much.”

  • December opening – an invitation to colleagues

    December opening – an invitation to colleagues

    This is an invitation for you and your household to join us on our December opening days

    If you’d like to visit the Museum on any of our open days in December, all colleagues are welcome to do so from 1.30pm onwards.

    As a reminder, we’ll be open for an outdoor-only experience on Sat 12, Sun 13, Sat 19, Sun 20 and then between Mon 21 and Wed 23 December inclusive.

    Attendance is free for all colleagues (both staff and volunteers) and their immediate household.  You will not need to use your allocation of staff tickets to attend, but please note that this invitation extends to you and your household only (you must be in attendance). 

    Please remember that you must adhere to all Tier 3 restrictions/guidance required of our visitors (including the Rule of Six and face coverings in Rolfe St) and that you will be unable to access staff areas during your visit.

    On the day, anyone who wishes to visit will need to join the public admission queue and register at admissions so that we can count your attendance and details in line with our legal obligations under NHS track and trace.

    In addition to being able to see the Museum at Christmas, colleagues visiting on an open day will be able to enjoy an enhanced festive discount with 25% off on gift shop purchases (excluding alcohol and Peaky Blinders-branded merchandise).

    We look forward to seeing you!

  • Pre-Christmas Outdoor-Only Opening: An Update for All Staff

    Pre-Christmas Outdoor-Only Opening: An Update for All Staff

    As you will be aware, due to Dudley being placed under Tier 3 restrictions we’re unable to proceed with our Christmas programme as originally intended – both for our Enchanted Christmas special event and our Unwrapping Christmas general admission visit.

    However, we want to play a role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our community in the run up to Christmas.  Therefore, as a heritage site, and line with current Tier 3 rules, we are able to open with an outdoor-only offer in December.

    How will outdoor-only opening work?

    On Sat 12, Sun 13, Sat 19, Sun 20, and then from Mon 21 to Wed 23 December inclusive, we will be able to welcome visitors who adhere to the Rule of Six to the Museum for an outdoor-only experience.

    Visitors will be welcome to visit and enjoy the Museum grounds and explore our outdoor site.  Opening in line with Tier 3 rules means:

    • There will be no visitor access to historic buildings, or any other indoor areas that are considered to be a visitor attraction
    • Indoor areas that can be accessed are limited to: Admissions, the Gift Shop, Catering on a takeaway only basis (including Hobb’s), and Toilets
    • The Bottle & Glass Inn will also remain closed as we are unable to offer a takeaway alcohol service on-site

    Visitors will be able to enter the Museum via a pre-booked ticket. Entry fees will be:

    • BCLM Members, UnChained Passholders, Business Partners can visit for free
    • Adults (16+) required to pay for entry can visit for £5 per adult
    • All children (15 yrs and under) will be admitted for free
    • All car parking charges are suspended during this period

    We believe the above offer makes visiting the Museum accessible, and good value for our local community at a time when many people may be looking for respite at this busy time of year. This limited-time visitor offer is designed to make the Museum a welcoming outside space where people can spend some time together in a Covid-safe manner.  It is not intended to be a like-for-like replacement of our full visitor programme. 

    We intend to send out public communications about the outdoor visit tomorrow and for bookings to open before the end of the week.

    How will staffing work for the outdoor only opening?

    Consequently, staffing during our open days will operate on a minimum basis in order to deliver an efficient admissions experience, the ability to operate a limited enterprise offer and, crucially, to ensure the safety of our visitors and colleagues on-site. 

    In addition to these core admissions and enterprise roles, we will deploy colleagues as uniformed stewards to help visitors to navigate the outdoor site.  The focus of the stewarding role will be on wayfinding and visitor safety, rather than storytelling related to the historic aspects of the site.  This means we will not deploy the costumed Historic Character role on outdoor-only days.  Nevertheless, there will be an opportunity for front-of-house staff – including members of the Historic Character team – to indicate their availability for stewarding shifts, should they wish to. Comms via PlanDay to follow.

    When will we be updated on arrangements for furlough and holiday?

    The People & Culture team are in the process of writing to all colleagues today with details of how furlough arrangements will work for each individual and the process for requesting annual leave over December and January.  Letters will be sent via email and physical post.  A member of your management team will contact you to agree a working pattern should you be required to work during this period and we will keep working patterns under continuous review. Should you have any questions arising from your letter, or if you have any other questions or concerns please email [email protected] and a member of the Museum team will respond.

    As well as being a time for joy, we know that Christmas can also be a difficult and emotionally-charged time of year.  This is likely to be particularly so for 2020, as everyone is faced with the consequences of the pandemic.  This is reminder that the Museum offers access to Employee Assistance Programme counselling service if you would like to talk to a trained counsellor about any worries you may be having concerning the impact of Coronavirus, whether work-related or not.

    When will the Museum close to visitors for 2020?  What’s happening about January shutdown?

    The Museum will close to visitors at 4pm on Wed 23 December and with a planned public re-opening on Sat 23 Jan 2021.  Further details on the Museum’s shutdown plans and training will be shared with all colleagues later this week.

    In the meantime, thank you to everyone for your hard work and continued perseverance.

  • Christmas Programme – important update

    Following the latest government announcement that the Black Country and surrounding areas are to be placed under ‘Tier 3’ restrictions, we are now unable to run our Christmas programme in the way that we had originally anticipated.

    Therefore, we’ve had to take the decision to cancel our Christmas programme – including both our ‘Enchanted Christmas’ event and the Unwrapping Christmas daytime offer.

    We know that many of you were looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Museum over the Christmas period.  Therefore, we’re looking at the possible ways that we can be here for our community in the lead up to Christmas with an alternative daytime opening that can operate under Tier 3 restrictions. 

    The Museum will now not re-open on Sat 5 Dec as originally planned, but we do intend to be open at some point later in the month. We’ll update colleagues with further details on this pre-Christmas opening plan as soon as possible.  Additionally, will write to all colleagues individually early next week to confirm the arrangements that will apply to furlough, pay, and holiday for December 2020.

  • Confidential: BCLM chosen as key site in vaccine roll out

    Confidential: BCLM chosen as key site in vaccine roll out

    CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION – NOT TO BE SHARED EXTERNALLY

    The Museum has been chosen as a key West Midlands site as part of the national roll out of the UK’s coronavirus vaccine programme.

    As a well-known landmark close to good transport links, BCLM proved to be a strong choice to support the work of the NHS in driving take up of the vaccine.  Therefore, we’re delighted to be able to play such a pivotal role in supporting the health and wellbeing of the local community.

    Work to set up the vaccination station at the Museum is currently at an early stage.  However, we will provide all colleagues with an updated and comprehensive FAQs on how the vaccination programme will be implemented on-site and how a full visitor offer will still operate alongside this vital effort to combat the virus as soon as possible.

    In the meantime, should you receive any approach from the media, please do not offer any public comment and refer the enquiry to Grant Bird (Head of Audiences & Communications) [email protected] or Natasha Eden (Chief Operating Officer) [email protected]. 

    A full public response on the how the Museum is playing its part to aid the NHS frontline will be issued in collaboration with the NHS in due course.

  • Support the Museum with Amazon Smile

    Support the Museum with Amazon Smile

    With Black Friday coming up if you are using Amazon for your shopping remember to shop using Amazon Smile!

    Using Amazon Smile is exactly the same as using Amazon, with the added benefit of a donation to your chosen charity. You can nominate BCLM as your charity and we’ll receive a donation each time you shop with Amazon Smile, at no extra cost to you.

    Simply sign up here: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/  and choose The Black Country Living Museum Trust as your charity.

    Thank you and happy shopping!

    – The Development Team

  • Important Museum Update – Tue 3 Nov

    Further to the Prime Minister’s announcement of a second national lockdown from 5 November until 2 December you will be aware that we will need to close the Museum to visitors during this time.

    We plan to reopen to visitors on the 5 December and welcome them back to our Unwrapping Christmas Programme and on the weekends of 12-13 and 19-20 we will still hold our Enchanted days as planned.

    We intend to make use of the Job Retention Scheme again and People and Culture, or your Line Manager will be in touch in coming days to help you to understand what this means for you and what your working pattern will be for November.

    During November we will return to staff only being on-site when absolutely necessary.  Should you need to be on-site during our temporary closure, this will need to be agreed with your line manager beforehand. Anyone entering the Museum will need to continue to follow all the Covid secure parameters already in place and keep in mind normal safeguarding measures.

    A huge thank you to everyone for making the last few months since we opened such a success – our visitor numbers for October half term (when we sold out every day!) are only one measure of how much our visitors and communities value what we offer and show what a brilliant job everyone has made of controlling what is in our power to control – creating lasting and living memories of the Black Country.

    Thank you again for all your efforts and continued support.