WEALD & DOWNLAND OPEN AIR
MUSEUM
NOMINATED FOR NATIONAL CHARITY AWARD
The
Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester, West
Sussex has been nominated for a major national prize at The Charity Awards
2004, the UK charity sector’s most prestigious award scheme. England’s
leading museum of historic buildings and traditional rural life has been
short-listed in the Arts, Culture and Heritage category, and is
hoping to pick up the coveted award at a star-studded awards ceremony in
London on 17th June.
The
annual Charity Awards ceremony is the most high-profile event in the
charity world calendar. The awards recognise excellence in the management
of charities, acknowledging the outstanding work and achievements of all
charities, big or small, from across the UK and the tireless commitment of
the people behind them. This is the fifth year that the awards have taken
place and the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum
is in
illustrious company on the shortlist alongside some of the UK's most high
profile charities including WWF, Barnardos, VSO and Crisis.
The
Charity Awards judges have recognised the excellent work the Museum has
undertaken in its Special Educational Needs Project, supported by Barclays
plc, which is now in its third successful year. The project provides
Medieval, Tudor and Victorian themed days of workshops, as well as a range
of tailored activity sessions for children of all ages from across the
southeast. Thanks to the partnership with Barclays through its community
investment programme, the Museum has been able to make a real difference
to the education of around a thousand children with special educational
needs each year.
If it
wins its category, the charity will then be in the running to pick up the
Overall Award for Excellence in Charity Management – a prestigious award
given to the best of the category winners, won last year by The Leonard
Cheshire Foundation. The Charity Awards 2004 is organised by Charity
Finance magazine, the leading business publication for the voluntary
sector. The distinguished panel of judges includes Sir Nicholas Young,
Chief Executive of the Red Cross, Ian Allsop, Editor of Charity Finance
magazine and Judith Hill, Head of Community and Charity at leading law
firm Farrer and Co.
Daniel
Phelan, organiser of The Charity Awards 2004 said, “This year, more than
ever, The Charity Awards are recognising initiatives implemented by many of
the UK’s national and regional charities on the ground in communities in
need. This is the cutting edge of the work of the voluntary sector where
excellent management makes all the difference. At a time when the charity
sector is facing the challenging and exciting prospect of taking a much
larger role in the provision of public sector services through the
Government's recently announced proposals in the draft Charities Bill,
acknowledging exceptional work and management achievement helps to spread
good practice throughout the sector and draws attention to the talent and
leading expertise that will deliver these services. By being short-listed,
the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum
has
already demonstrated that they are among the best run charities in the UK
and I wish them luck on the night."
For more
information about the Charity Awards 2004 please contact: Laura Davis or
Martyn Evans at Origin Communications on 020 7377 9911
E-mail:
laura@originuk.com
Barclays support is part of its commitment to communities. In 2003 Barclays
gave £32 .8 million to communities, 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 more information please
contact Jenna Eastlake, Community Manager SE, 0207 699 6672.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The
award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building
exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance
of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working
watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on
traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm
livestock and a working Tudor kitchen which also offers Tudor dining
fortnightly on Saturday evenings. The Museum runs a well-established
programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts. There is a
café which uses the Museum’s own flour and a shop with gifts and books on
countryside and buildings themes. The modern Downland Gridshell houses the
Museum’s building conservation centre and artefact collection. There is a
daily tour at 1.30pm when the Museum is open, and an appointments system for
visits to the collections for research purposes.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum.
For
further information call the Museum information line on 01243 811348 or
contact Cathy Clark, Marketing Officer
Tel:
01243
811014.
Fax:
01243 811475
Email:
marketing@wealddown.co.uk.
Full
details about the Museum and its activities can be found at
www.wealddown.co.uk
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