BARCLAYS PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADING MUSEUM HELPS CHILDREN GET TO GRIPS WITH THE CANTERBURY TALES

 Medieval Setting Brings Chaucer To Life
at
The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum

Children will have a unique opportunity to discover medieval life through the eyes of Chaucer in July in an innovative partnership between Barclays PLC and the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex.

Pupils from local schools studying the great English poet’s Canterbury Tales will work with students from South Downs College, the Museum’s staff and Barclays volunteers in the beautiful grounds of England’s leading museum of historic buildings, all thanks to Barclays. 

The ‘booster’ days, on 3 and 4 July, are designed to support children studying Chaucer as part of their Key Stage 3 English curriculum.  The days are also valuable for the college students who will run workshops for the children on the Nun’s Priest’s Tale and the Pardoner’s Tale, as part of their creative arts and drama assessments. 

Activities based on the tales will include a look at the historical background of the period, through the work of a medieval apothecary, a spinner, a cook and a pilgrim badge maker.  Using pewter children will make their own badge featuring Thomas-a-Beckett.  There will also be a story-telling session on the Wife of Bath’s Tale and a final performance of the Miller’s Tale for everyone to enjoy by the Museum’s working watermill. 

This is the third year the Chaucer days have been run: they are part of the Museum’s innovative educational programme for children with learning difficulties and in mainstream education, which is currently supported by Barclays. Children from all over the south-east are enjoying workshop-based days exploring medieval, Tudor and Victorian life as well as a range of specialist themes.  Staff led by the Museum’s education officer, Diane Walker, work with the children alongside local Barclays staff, who give up their time as part of Barclays’ employee volunteering programme to act as volunteer assistants. 

“It is important that the Museum and its very special resources are available to everyone and this unique programme enables us to actively help children,” says Diane Walker.  “The whole day is meant to be a practical experience to give the children a break from the classroom, bringing medieval times and literature to life in a historic setting.”   

Debbie Phillips of Barclays, community manager for South East says: “At Barclays we are committed to communities and we are delighted to support the educational activities of the Weald & Downland Museum.  This is a great opportunity for us to help make a real and lasting difference to the local community.” 

Schools taking part include Gosden House School, Guildford; Patcham House Special School, Brighton; Worthing High School; The Samuel Cody School, Farnborough; Downs View Special School, Brighton; Westergate Community College, Chichester, and St Philip Howard School, Barnham, West Sussex.  

The museum of historic buildings and rural life, which has won several national awards for its education service, has more than doubled the number of children with special educational needs it helps each year through the programme.  Barclays is this year helping with a grant of £17,000.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits from town and country and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections.  Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens and farm livestock.  The Museum runs a well-established and much sought-after programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts.  There is a café which uses the Museum’s own produce and a museum shop with gifts and books on countryside and buildings themes.  An important new addition is the modern Downland Gridshell, runner-up for the Stirling Prize, housing the Museum’s new building conservation centre and artefact collection.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Reporters and photographers are welcome.  For further information on the Barclays Special Educational Needs Project please contact Diane Walker or Christine Standing at the Museum on 01243 811927/811459 or Cathy Clark, Marketing Officer, on 01243 811521.  Email marketing@wealddown.co.uk.  Full details about the Museum and its activities can be found at www.wealddown.co.uk.

In 2002 Barclays global commitment to the community amounted to £32 million, which includes 1% of UK pre-tax profits.  As one of the UK’s largest corporate community contributors, the bank aims to achieve real and lasting benefit both for the community and Barclays, by supporting education, social inclusion, people with disabilities, the arts and the environment.  For further information on Barclays Community Investment Programme, please contact:
Debbie Phillips, community manager for South East. 
Tel 020 7699 6672. 
Email debbie.phillips@barclays.co.uk.