Caddy Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 What are these places without their volunteers? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25916048 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Its all about "slick" these days Even Stonehenge has just had the "slick" treatment (and oh yes entrance fee doubled I believe) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 it always makes me sad when l read things like this in the real world museums find it hard to employ and pay enough permanent staff volunteers are vital to any museums success one volunteer is worth there weight gold l know l would suggest they solve this dispute quickly before it gets out of hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jchinuk Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 What are these places without their volunteers? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25916048 The problem is that the BBC article does not seem to give both sides of the story. To gain lottery funding (and a lot of it) organisations are required to exhibit a degree of professionism and tick various boxes. Those with long memories will recall the Tank Museum in the sixties, relying on a volunteer workforce, and compare it with today's museum, with state of the art displays and a professional staff. I think Bletchley Park is going through the same transformation. Sadly, all things must change. jh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toner Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Sadly it seems that the new head of the Bletchley Park Trust has his own ideas on how to 'manage' the Trust. Here are some links from an IT site called "The Register" http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/03/bletchley_park_spat_halts_work_on_lorenz_sz42/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/29/volunteers_slam_plans_to_turn_bletchley_park_into/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/28/bletchley_park_sacks_elderly_volunteers/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 The problem is that the BBC article does not seem to give both sides of the story. To gain lottery funding (and a lot of it) organisations are required to exhibit a degree of professionism and tick various boxes. Those with long memories will recall the Tank Museum in the sixties, relying on a volunteer workforce, and compare it with today's museum, with state of the art displays and a professional staff. I think Bletchley Park is going through the same transformation. Sadly, all things must change. jh Unfortunately this brings with it the threat of "professional charities" who seem to forget why they are there in the first place. I can think of several national examples. :-( Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Bletchley park has been going through a systematic purge of several groups who use and maintain the various buildings. Perhaps if they actually declared the fact that they needed to dispense of the volunteers to gain more funding that would help alleviate the situation. At the end of the day it is all about money and attracting corporate investments. I could mention several other things that the "trustees" have done, but its not for a forum discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I agree with you Rick. It would help if Bletchley Park decided what the purpose of the Trust is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Child Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I'm surprised things have degenerated to the point where they're erecting a fence through the Bletchley Park site, cutting it in half. Last time I visited I found both museums to be part of the story of the whole site. It seems rather silly to be cutting it in half, if silly's the right word when they're doing it on a site of international heritage in the name of remembrance. There's some info here - http://www.tnmoc.org/news/news-releases/deciphering-discontent-statement-tnmoc-trustees http://www.tnmoc.org/news/news-releases/bigger-picture-fragmenting-heritage-site and the other side http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/news/v.rhtm/Statement_of_Facts-757580.html Let's hope they make some sort of agreement before it gets too far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 Not when you realise it has been sold to a developer who happens to be related, I believe, to a former trustee. All hearsay and not fact I hasten to add. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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