The past few weeks our amazing volunteers have been busy preparing and hosting tours for booked groups as well as for National Volunteer Week. It has been an incredible time for visitors, staff and volunteers alike in the reintroduction of tours in the Museum!
In the past fortnight we were fortunate enough to have an accessible needs group attend our display, meaning we were able to adjust the experience and think about ways it can be more accessible. Alan and Beth took the tour group and showed them some of our iconic objects on Level 3, the Boulton and Watt, Locomotive no.1, the Strasburg Clock and more, before the group attended a lace studies demonstration.
Our lace volunteers Jay and Lynne put some valuable, and less valuable and therefore touchable, lace pieces on display, in the balcony area on level 4. This is owing to the lace studies centre being not wheelchair accessible. But it was awesome, to be in a new area, and engage with the collection in a new way, showing visitors how to make bobbin lace, and the detail and time that goes into these pieces.
The group we had was highly engaged and thankful. It was a wonderful reminder of the value that Volunteers add to the collection, and the skill and knowledge that volunteers have, in engaging the public.
Jacinta Gregory
Volunteer Program Officer