Record Entries for Museum Awards

An annual awards scheme has attracted a record number of entries, from 20 community-run museums in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The heritage awards were launched 20 years ago by Leicestershire County Council and the Leicestershire and Rutland Museums Forum, to recognise the work of volunteers to preserve the area’s rich heritage.

Today, the County Council revealed that 20 different museums and heritage groups had submitted 35 entries for six different awards:

• Best special project
• Best exhibition
• The award for work with children and young people
• Best special event
• The achievement award
• Museum of the year (chosen from one of the entries to the five categories)

Community museums officer Rob Clarke said: “I’m delighted that we’ve had so many entries – it just shows how community-run museums are more relevant than ever, helping people to learn about their local history and play a part in preserving it.”

Around 1,000 volunteers run 40 independent museums in the area and they attract 250,000 visitors per year.
Judging will now take place, before the winners are announced at a ceremony at Stapleford Park in July. The top prize is a plaque and £100.

The judging panel includes Heather Lomas, Heritage Consultant, Jim McCallum from Voluntary Action Leicester Shire and a panel of young people.

For further details about community museums and the awards, see www.leics.gov.uk/community_museums
For media interviews, please contact the press office on 0116 305 7046 or Rob Clarke on 0116 305 4140.

View the Press Release on Leicestershire County Council’s Website for a detailed list of entries.

The Value of Volunteers

A few days away at Museum Development Officers’ and Association of Independent Museums conferences reinforced the huge value that volunteers have for our sector, particularly for independent museums.

They are the lifeblood of our organisations with many museums stating that they could simply not operate without volunteers. In Leicestershire & Rutland, of course, the majority of our museums are those particularly special ones run only by volunteers with no paid staff whatsoever.

Volunteers bring so much – they bring time, expertise and willingness, they are keen, eager and dedicated, they are open, welcoming and pleased to help. It is a regular pleasure to meet with, and speak with the dedicated volunteer workforce across the counties.

Problem is, we need more. We always need more. And sometimes in our sector we are not too good at recruiting them. The times are indeed changing and often people don’t volunteer for volunteering’s sake (although some do), but have a specific purpose in mind. They may want to meet people, make friends, learn new skills, gain experience for their CV or some other purpose. All of these are perfectly valid reasons for volunteering, and we should welcome people with such motivations with open arms. They can expand the capacity of our organisations and help us deliver more for our communities.

We must take account of the best practice in terms of volunteering and look at the experiences of others to learn how to better recruit more volunteers for our museums. We must remember the importance of developing volunteer policies and role descriptions for volunteers. People want to know exactly what they are going to do and what they will get in return. We must consider other issues, particularly relating to money. No volunteer should be out of pocket. If someone volunteers for 5 hours per week at your museum, that is worth £62.50 on the average British wage, so giving them a couple of quid for their bus fare seems perfectly reasonable, really.

We must also remember to recognise our volunteers – and where a museum is run entirely by volunteers, perhaps that is everyone’s responsibility. Just making sure everyone gets a card on their birthday and a slice of cake and a nice cup of tea every so often can go a long way. Offering people references and recommendations where appropriate is essential to recruiting volunteers after CV enhancement. The occasional party with a glass of wine or three on offer also helps.

There is so much help out there to guide us in the right direction in terms of recruiting and managing volunteers – we don’t have to fumble around in the dark. Engage with your local volunteer centre, talk to them, listen to them. Explain what amazing things the volunteers in our sector achieve.

Research in the East Midlands shows that, compared to other sectors like sport and social care, realtively few people volunteer in museums. The same research also shows that those museum volunteers are, however, some of the most dedicated, giving more time, more regularly – and that is truly something to be proud of.

Let’s raise a glass to our sector, our achievements, and, most of all, our volunteers.

Cheers!