SCOTTISH MARITIME MUSEUM VOLUNTEER SCOOPS SCOTLAND AWARD IN UK VOLUNTEERS FOR MUSEUM LEARNING AWARDS

A volunteer at the Scottish Maritime Museum on Irvine Harbourside has scooped the Scotland award in the UK national ‘Volunteers for Museum Learning’ Awards.

Bronwyn Close was recognised in the ‘Volunteers for Museum Learning’ Awards, which are run by the British Museum and the Marsh Charitable Trust to celebrate the hugely important contribution that volunteers across the UK make in helping museums engage with their visitors.

Bronwyn, who lives in Ayr and has an MSc in Museum Education from Glasgow University, began volunteering at the Museum a year ago.

Claire Munro, Learning and Access Manager at the Scottish Maritime Museum, says:

We’re thrilled that Bronwyn has been recognised for all her hard work and commitment at the Museum in this way.

“Bronwyn is really passionate about accessibility and breaking down barriers to engagement. She has made an invaluable contribution to the development of ‘Little Sea Monsters’, our weekly creative session for under fives, and our popular education programme. Indeed, she played an important role in the development of our new Learning Boxes, which take maritime heritage into the classroom, and has been a fantastic, enthusiastic support with visiting primary schools.”

Sarah Saunders, Head of Learning and National Partnerships at the British Museum, adds: 

Volunteering brings so many benefits to the nation’s museums and galleries and the communities they serve, helping to promote health and well-being, and learning and enjoyment. Volunteering also brings so many benefits to those people who generously give their time freely, from making new friends to gaining confidence in a new skill. I’m sure that this year’s Marsh Awards winners will inspire new volunteer projects giving people across the country increased opportunities to get involved in supporting their local museum.”

The winners each receive a cash prize of £500, donated by the Marsh Charitable Trust. The judges consisted of staff from the Marsh Trust, staff and volunteers from the British Museum and a representative from Beamish Museum, County Durham.

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Issued on behalf of the Scottish Maritime Museum by 

Joanna Harrison, Mobile: 07884 187404