End of year report

We've had a great year, and to celebrate we've put together a report of what we've been up to and what we plan to do next. Comments and questions welcome!
Alison

In 2018…

We had at least 3715 visitors  (up from 3573 last year and 3371 in 2016). We collected 380 evaluation forms and they showed that 84% of visitors would be very likely to recommend us to others. Many also specifically mentioned helpful, knowledgeable and/or friendly volunteers.

Volunteer work

4,184 hours logged so far this year – many thanks for signing in and out! Work done in 2018 has included:

Mill maintenance including fitting new stones and tun

Site maintenance including painting ploughs and doors, general maintenance of lawns

Vintage vehicles work on Holsman and Austin, redisplay of smaller items

Dorothy Grainger exhibition

Photo digitisation and revamp of newspaper cuttings

Checking light and pest levels

Cleaning

Front of house – tea room, kiosk and windmill

School and group visits

Events

Opening weekend and Easter Egg Hunt:      327 visitors  

National Mills Weekend:                                628 visitors 

Classsic Car day                                                88 visitors     

Summer Fete                                                   70 visitors (estimate) 

Children’s holiday activities                          384 visitors + October

Tea and talks                                                    85 visitors

Heritage Open Days                                        271 visitors

Funded projects

Tea room refurbishment and card reader system – Cambridgeshire County Council £500

Mill for All Seasons – Heritage Lottery Fund £7000 this year

Evaluation – SHARE museums East £500

Co-op fund for new paths – amount to be decided, collecting in November

Parish Council support for Heritage Open Days £200

Plans for the winter

Vintage Vehicles project – costumes for mannekins and Austen 7

Make all exhibits which contain asbestos safe for the public and for volunteers

Arts award project with Burwell Village College

Classes on Thursdays for Newmarket U3A  (starting in January, French conversation and crafts)

Linda research on the history of the museum

Tidy up including sheds, workshop and builders store

Possible aims for the next three years (covered by the forward plan which we will be writing over the winter)

Make the museum easier to maintain

Make the museum easier to run on open days

Create closer links with the school and other community groups

Continue to record, protect and improve our collections

Generate enough income to keep the museum running without regular grant funding

What else do you think should be here? What would you like to know? Where would you like the museum to be in 3 years’ time?