‘Our Dynamic Earth’, a Scottish science centre, has received £80,000 of funding from the Science Engagement Grant Scheme, which is a Scottish Government initiative to engage young people in science. The funding will support a summer show that will be in collaboration with the Edinburgh International Science Festival. It will also develop a schools’ outreach programme, Closer2Nature. It offers the first Climate Change Workshop available on an outreach basis. 33 other projects across Scotland will also benefit from funding which is expected to reach 300,000 pupils.
The Haig Colliery Mining Museum in Whitehaven has just received a £1.9 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will allow the site to be restored and provide access to the collections. It will create a meaningful facility for the local community which reflects the historic importance of coal mining in Whitehaven (source BBC).
The Aquarium of the Lakes in Cumbria, has launched a new ‘Virtual Dive Bell’, which allows visitors to come face to face with scary sharks, hippos and crocodiles. The attraction takes visitors to lakes and freshwater destinations all over the world.
Today the internet is part of everyday life for children. Children are familiar with the online world and use tools such as Facebook and MySpace to communicate with friends. The Imperial War Museum has launched a new section on their website - ‘The Battle of the Somme’ which through personal stories and by posting original documents online has made the history of the Battle of the Somme very accessible to children.
In 2017 it is predicted that the UK population will have increased by 5 million people to 65 million and by 2031 the UK population is forecast to be over 70 million people.
During 2007 the UK for the first time in its history will have more pensioners than children. By 2010 the number of pensioners in the UK is set to increase to 12.2 million people. This offers a number of opportunities and challenges for the production of audience development plans and it is going to be important to recognise the distinct needs of different segments within the ’senior market place.’
The National Trust has recently launched a new strategy ‘Our Future - Join In‘ (opens as a PDF) which promotes the Trust’s wish to develop closer engagement with visitors and members. The National Trust has over 3.5 million members and approximately 49,000 people carry out volunteer work with the Trust.
The National Trust manages:
- 28 castles
- 707 miles of coastline
- 626,051 acres of countryside
- 66 nature reserves
- 4,000 prehistoric monuments
- All or part of 5 World Heritage sites
- 215 houses and gardens
- 149 registered museums,
- 127 factories, workshops and mines
- 12 lighthouses
- 2 gold mines,
- 78 mills
- 57 historic villages
- 43 pubs
To find out more visit the National Trust’s website.