Charity of the Month: May ‘The Woodhorn Charitable Trust’

A charity who’s vision is to ‘Share Northumberland’s stories to connect, enrich and inspire’.  We spoke to Becky Madeley, Communications Manager at the trust, who gave us a further view to how they help preserve Northumberland’s heritage sites, collections and stories.

Can you please give us a brief overview of what your charity does and who it supports?

Museums Northumberland is the public brand of The Woodhorn Charitable Trust. It is an independent charity providing Northumberland’s museums service responsible for four museums across Northumberland. These are Berwick Museum and Art Gallery, Hexham Old Gaol, Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum and The Woodhorn Museum.

We use the funds we raise to share and preserve Northumberland’s collections, stories and heritage sites. We work with our communities and hundreds of partners to deliver great exhibitions and experiences and support learning and cultural engagement across Northumberland.

Through everything it does, the mission is to inspire people to engage and connect with Northumberland’s culture and heritage.

Where are you based?

The main office is based at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington, South East Northumberland, but the team and the communities we support are from across Northumberland.

How much have you been impacted by Covid-19?

The museums have been closed for the majority of the pandemic which has resulted in a significant loss of income from visitors – admission charges account for 80% of our funding. Most of the team have been furloughed which has significantly reduced the work we can do with our communities.

To continue in our mission to inspire people to engage and connect with Northumberland’s stories we have invested time and money in developing and enhancing our digital presence, allowing people to engage and be inspired by the county’s culture and heritage at home.

As we approach reopening the museums (from 17^th May) we have invested in and made significant changes to the way we work and how we will welcome visitors back in a Covid-safe way.

What are you future hopes and aims for your charity?

Museums Northumberland remains true to its mission to Share Northumberland’s Stories in engaging and inspiring ways. We look forward to visitors returning and reconnecting with Northumberland’s heritage and culture. As we return to ‘the new normal’ our hope is that events and activities will return and we will once again see our museums come alive with people enjoying quality time together.

We have ambitious plans for the future that require capital investment and fundraising to continue investing in our sites, exhibition and events programme and creating opportunities with and for our communities.

Museums Northumberland is currently looking for a diverse group of volunteers to form a Community Advisory Panel. This panel will help shape our collections and be involved in discussions on how future exhibitions and collections reflect the communities living and working in Northumberland today.
Femmer to Firmer – Museums Northumberland

There are many other ways to get involved behind the scenes and front of house.
Volunteer – Museums Northumberland

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE WOODHORN CHARITABLE TRUST:

Head to: www.museumsnorthumberland.org.uk

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumsnorthumberland/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Woodhorn