Ripon Museum Trust
Ripon Museum Trust is a medium sized educational charity which operates 3 museums in the centre of Ripon. Our 3 museums follow a common theme of law and order and are based in the original workhouse, prison and courthouse buildings. We are a voluntary organisation with over 100 volunteers with a small team of paid staff. Our volunteers operate across all aspects of the museums and are the “magic” that is vital to our continued success
- Updated:
- 25 February 2015
- Location:
- Yorkshire and Humber
- Sectors:
- Voluntary Sector, Arts, Recreation
- Local Alliances:
- Harrogate and Rural District Dementia Action Alliance, Yorkshire & Humber Dementia Action Alliance
1. Action Plan
1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?
Ripon Museum Trust would like to become a Dementia Friendly organisation as part of the local Harrogate and District Dementia Alliance. In particular representing Ripon as a significant local visitor attraction.
We would like to welcome people with dementia and their carers into our 3 museums to experience the buildings and participate in activities and events.
We would like to work with individuals and local groups to develop dementia friendly activities as part of the museum’s events programme.
We would like to gain a greater understanding and awareness of dementia for our staff and volunteers which will help us feel more confident in welcoming visitors. This will help us provide a positive and appropriate experience for individuals and groups. As well as working with our local Ripon Dementia Forward to provide dementia awareness training we will arrange training on broader disability issues to help us improve the environment for all our visitors.
We will offer support and advice to any volunteers who have personal/family concerns relating to dementia by directing them to an appropriate service.
2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?
A challenge to becoming more dementia friendly could be restrictions on the time and availability of volunteers to attend training.
In addition there could be a reluctance and unease to participate due to the demographic of our volunteers.
It will also be challenging to maintain a rolling programme of training for new volunteers and staff whilst continuing to operate 3 museums 42 weeks a year.
Another challenge could be to identify ways in which we can reach people with dementia and their carers to promote the museums as a positive experience.
Member website
www.riponmuseums.co.uk2. Actions
-
Dementia Awareness Training
To organise dementia awareness training sessions for staff and volunteers from all areas of our operations. In particular our front of house and learning team volunteers who play a vital role in welcoming our visitors.
- Status:
- Delivery
-
Launch
When our Action Plan is accepted and initial training complete to celebrate our “Dementia Friendly” status with an event for volunteers and the local dementia community
- Status:
- Planning
-
Communication and promotion
To use our website to publicise our dementia friendly status in order to provide up to date and easily accessible information for people with dementia and their cares to help them choose to visit Ripon Museums.
To use our facebook and twitter account to promote activities and events which may be of interest to people with dementia and their carers.
- Status:
- Planning
-
GEM conference September 2015
To participate in the GEM (group for educators in museums) September study day “Aging Well” by using our experience of becoming dementia friendly to encourage other museums and attractions to follow suit.
- Status:
- Planning