Staff, volunteers and friends will be celebrating the award before embarking on two years of hard work to prepare the collections for display when the Museum re-opens in 2014.

West Berkshire Council has allocated £815,500 in its capital programme towards the total project cost of £2.26million. The Headley Trust has also promised £40,000 and it is hoped that the newly formed Friends of West Berkshire Museum will help to raise the remaining £200,000 needed.

The Greenham Common Trust has already committed £100,000 towards the shortfall and organisations and individuals can make contributions to the project through the Find Me a Grant West Berkshire website.
 
The project involves restoration of the historic Cloth Hall and Corn Stores, creation of a new link building and visitor facilities, and complete refurbishment of all display and activity spaces. Planning and Listed Building Consent applications have already been approved.

The redevelopment will increase exhibition areas by a third and much more of the Museum’s collections will be displayed.

The Museum will continue its programme of temporary exhibitions at venues across West Berkshire while the Wharf Street buildings are closed. Heritage Service staff and volunteers are also running learning and education activities around the district using objects from the collections. Museum staff want to work with groups of all types across West Berkshire to plan and prepare museum activities and displays ready for re-opening.

Hilary Cole, West Berkshire Executive Councillor for Culture, said: “This is an excellent result. The redevelopment of the Museum will be a real asset for West Berkshire and a great benefit to everyone in the community. I would like to thank the team for all their hard work over recent years to bring this success.”

Greenham Common Trust Chief Executive Stuart Tagg, said: “Preserving the local heritage of West Berkshire for future generations is very important and the Trust is pleased to make a contribution towards bringing this valuable resource back into full use.”

Notes for editors

Over the past 14 years Greenham Common Trust has distributed millions of pounds to local charities and organisations through its reactive grants. Find Me a Grant is a comprehensive and interactive single point of access which matches funding needs with funds available in an efficient and effective way.

Find Me a Grant provides the latest information on local fundraising giving grant applicants greater accessibility to grants and donations and enabling grant making bodies to see the bigger picture before deciding who deserves their funding.

The Friends of West Berkshire Museum will be holding its inaugural meeting at the Museum at 7.00pm on Thursday 28 June.

Staff, volunteers and friends will be celebrating the HLF grant with a social evening at Shaw House 6.00pm to 8.00pm Thursday 21 June.

Further information

Anyone interested in getting involved should contact the Museum Manager, Steph Gillett on 01635 519 231 or email sgillett@westberks.gov.uk or telephone 07787 828 189.

For further information about the Museum, including FAQs, go to the West Berkshire Council website.