1. What if there is no shoestring?
SWFED Fleet Air Museum Yeovilton
7th March 2019

2. Jet Age Museum History 1984 - An idea was born!
Form a Museum to honour work of Gloster Aircraft Company!
1991-Brockworth G(loucestershire). A(viation). C(ollection).
Hangar 7 - Staverton (men in sheds).
2000 -Belfast Hangar Brockworth (same men bigger shed).
2001- Bentham-Shadow Factory (more sheds).
Brockworth Court (this time it’s a barn).
Brockworth Enterprise School.
Jet Age Museum History

3. 2010 – Staverton. Home at Last (Opened May 2014).
Funding £300,000 (none of which was allocated for education)
Totally volunteer led and manned.
£375,000 funding raised for phase 2a (new hanger)
Phase 2b includes a dedicated education centre.
2017 Queens Award for Voluntary Service.
Over 130,000 visitor to date.
Over 1500 students in the last 8 years.
Jet Age Museum History

4. No money! At least have a policy.
“To promote and preserve the aeronautical heritage of Gloucestershire for the benefit of the public”.
“To exhibit to members of the public materials related to flying, the air and space industry and its associated technology by means of the establishment and maintenance of an aviation museum and other temporary or permanent exhibitions”.
No money! At least have a policy.

5. No money! At least have a policy.
“Preserving the past inspiring the future.”
No money! At least have a policy.

6. No money! At least have a policy.
Jackie Harris
Jackie had recently obtained arts council funding for the National Waterways Museum.
She also wrote a white paper on our education programme.
Initial target primary schools
Trevor Davies
Drive
Experienced journalist
Not interested in aircraft.
No money! At least have a policy.

7. Develop local networks
Schools
Further education
Industry
Local airport (Staverton)
Air cadets
Professional bodies (RAeS, I MechE)
Other interested parties (LAC, local history groups)
Local charities (Fly2help, Butterfly Garden)
Develop local networks

8. Engaging schools Make life as easy as possible for teachers.
Schools are bombarded with invitations to attend museums and attractions.
The cost of a coach being the most expensive part of the day, the entry fee is not the thing that puts them off.
For many teachers, they want to know that the site has a risk assessment for the school visits (so that they don’t have to do their own).
Somewhere to have lunch.
We do not charge for a visit but ask for donation.
Engaging schools

9. Develop your team & material
Not just propeller heads.
STEM ambassadors from industry
Historical re-enactors
Education professional
Funding specialists
Communication specialists
Have a common aim and train the team.
Volunteers who are confident with children.
Volunteers confident with the technical material
Why are we doing this?
Develop material
We have a flexible series activities and tailor for each visit.
Navigation
History of flight
How things fly
Mini gear
Build a plane
Paper planes
We also have history based talks around the museum.
WWI and WWII
Early jets
Local industries contribution
Women in aviation
Now expanding to cover secondary students.
Thrust to weight
Build a cargo plane
Powerplants
Develop your team & material

10. Education events supported
Week day education visits
Target 1 per month
School outreach events
Special museum celebrations
100 years of the RAF
Women in aviation
Gloucestershire Cool Aero (two day education event)
2016 (150 years of the RAeS)
2017 (The future of aerospace)
2018 (100 years of the RAF)
2019 (Women in aviation)
Education events supported

11. Summary Enthusiasm Core team Flex your network Listen to the experts
200 volunteers
Education team <5%
Core team
Local expertise (technical, educational, historical)
Flex your network
Companies may not provide funding, but can be useful for “In Kind” support, people, equipment, time.
Listen to the experts
Elicit feedback from customers (positive and negative)
Review each event with team
Be flexible
Make it enjoyable for both students and volunteers
Summary