Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
People: Improving people’s mental wellbeing
We want to set up a calm corner at our most popular museum, Blists Hill, to offer any visitors who have hidden disabilities, health conditions, or SEN, respite from what can be a busy environment.
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About this cause
As a registered charity, we work tirelessly to protect the historic landscape of the Gorge, which includes our 10 museums, all of which contributed to Ironbridge becoming internationally renowned as the Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Our most popular museum, Blists Hill, transports visitors back in time to the Victorian era through encapsulating the sights, smells and sounds of this small mining town. The streets can often be busy and loud, and whilst this sets the scene for 1900, it can often overwhelm visitors. As we are part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme, we have collaborated with local charity PODS (Parents Opening Doors), who regularly visit Blists Hill, to learn how to make our museum more accessible for visitors with additional needs.
How this cause brings people in the community together
Our new calm corner, called the Sunflower Room, will enable visitors with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and mental and physical health conditions to take time out in a safe, quiet space. It will also have the facilities to be used for activities such as breast feeding. The money raised from the support of Co-op members will go towards providing sensory toys and equipment, dementia support, sensory tents, ear defenders, soft padded seating and baby changing mats, among other things. We know from having conversations with many of our visitors that having a calm corner is a priority for them and would make them feel more at home at Blists Hill. We see this as extremely important to enable us to support our local community, and visitors from further afield better.