Dean Heritage Centre Plans for the Future

The Dean Heritage Centre has recently received a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help it plan for the future. The current museum needs to be upgraded to inspire future generations with the distinctive and surprising stories of the Forest of Dean. 

Mark George, the Centre Manager, explains, "The museum currently holds a fascinating collection of artefacts and documents which tell the stories of the past and present heritage of the Forest of Dean. We want to be able to engage our local communities with more of the collection in an exciting and entertaining way, as well as link with more local schools to help children learn about their heritage.” 

The Dean Heritage Centre is managed through a charity, the Dean Heritage Museum Trust, which relies on volunteers to support the team. The charity was established in 1983, following the donation of the current site, by the Joiner family, to the Forest of Dean District Council as a museum for the Forest of Dean. Like many charities, the Trust has to cover its running costs from the funds raised from various earned incomes, such as Admission Tickets, the Gift Shop and the Coffee Shop. All those associated with the Dean Heritage Centre understand the need to develop the museum to meet the needs of a 21st Century audience. 

The Chair of the Trust, Iain Baird, leads a team of volunteer trustees, but is seeking further members of the team: “We have a dedicated group of trustees who give up their valuable time to help develop the museum. The lottery grant will help us plan this development; however, we also need support from members of the Forest community who have knowledge of construction project management, fund-raising or human resources to join the board of trustees. The commitment is a few hours a month, although some of our trustees provide additional time, for which we are very grateful.” 

If you can help support this exciting development of the museum then you can contact Iain at chair@deanheritagecentre.com. 

About the Dean Heritage Centre 

The Dean Heritage Centre is in Soudley, Forest of Dean. It aims to record and preserve the area's history and its people. 

With five acres to explore, the centre is a must-see in the Forest of Dean. There's something for everyone to discover. As an accredited museum, we focus on preserving the Forest of Dean's heritage. We share stories and artefacts. We also create an interactive centre and care for valuable items. Our goal is to ensure a lasting legacy and protect our collection for future generations.  

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.  

Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.   

The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.  

The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.  

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund  www.heritagefund.org.uk.