The Swindon Museums Service were honoured to receive three awards in January, two Museum of Sanctuary Awards for STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway and Lydiard House Museum and an Arts and Culture Organisation of Sanctuary Award for Museum & Art Swindon. Chloe and Aderonke from Swindon City of Sanctuary presented the Swindon Museums Manager, Frances Yeo, with the three awards at a Celebration Event. Community Engagement Officer, Stephanie Howell said, ‘We were privileged to have Madam Mayor Councillor Fay Howard, Councillor Emma Bushell and our Multaka Swindon volunteers with us, to receive the awards.’
Madam Mayor, Councillor Fay Howard said, ‘It is wonderful that this work has been recognised. The award demonstrates the power of working collaboratively and in partnership.’
This was a culmination of two years of work with partners within SBC, Live Well and Warm Welcome Teams, across the Borough, the Harbour Project and Swindon City of Sanctuary and with Multaka Oxford. This was recognised by the Appraisal Panel, ‘The museums have demonstrated excellent partnership work. Their engagement with Harbour, Live Well, Warm Welcome, City of Sanctuary, and Multaka Oxford shows a commitment to learning from experienced organisations. They consistently sought guidance before designing programmes, which resulted in activities that meet real needs rather than assumptions. Their openness to mentoring, especially through Multaka Oxford, highlights reflective practice. This level of consultation is exactly what we expect in a Museum of Sanctuary application.’
Stephanie Howell, Community Engagement Officer, led the work, developing and delivering outreach activities, to include creative workshops and object handling sessions, delivered talks, tours, workshops and activities in the three museums and established volunteer and wellbeing projects. Feedback from the Appraisal Panel noted ‘The museum has created genuinely inclusive pathways—from visitor, to volunteer, to co-curator. Their Multaka Swindon work stands out as an example of shared ownership. Volunteers were not just participating; they were leading tours and shaping exhibitions. The Arts for Wellbeing group reflects responsive, compassionate practice. These initiatives demonstrate a deep commitment to belonging and collective creativity.’
The Community Engagement Team worked in collaboration with Multaka Swindon volunteers, Live Well Project Officers and with teams across the three museums: Collections and Exhibitions, Visitor Experience, STEAM Archive, Learning and Engagement and Events and Marketing, to create welcoming spaces. Feedback about the Arts for Wellbeing sessions at Museum & Art Swindon observed, ‘The Arts activities Wellbeing sessions truly felt like a safe space. Women were calm, smiling, and sharing skills from home. I saw people who were usually shy begin to talk more freely. Stephanie didn’t rush anyone; they created an environment where we could have fun and reconnect with joy.’
Community Engagement Officer, Stephanie Howell stated, ‘We recognise that bringing people together, working collaboratively, sharing skills, knowledge, experiences and culture can achieve great things and create inclusive and welcoming environments. We thank everybody that has contributed to make our projects a success.’
This work has been funded by Wessex Museums Partnership, GWR Customer and Community Improvement Fund and Travis Perkins Managed Services Community Legacy Fund.
Sanctuary Awards acknowledge institutions that contribute to building a more welcoming, inclusive and compassionate society. Museums and Arts organisations that apply go through an Accreditation Process, overseen by an Appraisal Panel. Swindon Museums Service join the many museums and art galleries throughout the UK that have received the Award, including the Arnolfini, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester Museum.
