Fenland museum honours school-age volunteers with end of year awards

Students from Meadowgate Academy in Wisbech have been awarded certificates in recognition of their hard work and enthusiasm as volunteers at Wisbech and Fenland Museum – a link that maintained throughout lockdown for Covid-19.

Meadowgate students in Y11 started as volunteers last September in various roles.

They assisted in cataloguing objects, creating shop displays, preparing craft activities and writing a visual story guide for the museum.

Since March 2020 when both museum and school buildings closed for lockdown, the museum has kept in touch with the students, sending newsletters and providing digital content for Google Classroom.

Curator Robert Bell said: “We really miss our Meadowgate volunteers. We are delighted to recognise their achievements and we cannot thank them enough for all their work.

“Thanks to funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund we have been able to keep in touch with them remotely and provide resources for their home-working throughout lockdown.”

Class teacher Alison Banks said: “Fenland Museum has offered so many opportunities to our year 11 pupils.

“The students have shown increased independence in the workplace setting and have been a credit to Meadowgate Academy and the town of Wisbech. They have learnt vital skills, from how to talk sociably to people to creating displays and resources for the

public.

“The range of activities and adults they have worked with has developed the students’ life skills - only a supportive setting outside of school can achieve this.

“The provision of remote activities and learning has enabled pupils to engage with the museum even during lockdown.”