Developing new audiences – successfully working with children and young people

By Jemma Fowkes, Learning & Access Officer at the John Moore Museum

Why should you work with children and young people?

Education Mission Statements should include:

·  Key objectives

·  Key themes

·  Education audiences

NB. It should be shared and developed in conjunction with museum staff and trustees

Health & safety, risk assessments and DBS / CRB checks

·  Protecting your organisation, staff and visitors

·  Ensuring that the services you provide are high quality

Risk assessments

•  Where will your activity take place?

•  Who will be involved?

•  What type of activity will you be delivering?

What sort of hazards / risks will be involved and how can you minimalize them?

Hazard / Action

Safeguarding

Definition: “protect from harm or damage with an appropriate measure”.

·  Guidelines and training for staff working with CYP

·  Do staff need DBS (CRB) checks?

·  The Common Sense Approach

Providing for children and young people

·  Discovery Families

·  Children First

Types of activities

·  Museum and garden trails and quizzes

Medium preparation; low staff; low costs

·  Handling ‘hot’ points

Low preparation; medium staff; low costs

·  Activity tables

Medium preparation; low / medium staff; low / medium costs

·  Workshops

High preparation; medium / high staff; medium costs

·  Family events

High preparation; medium / high staff; high costs

·  Digital technology???

Planning an activity

Things to consider:

·  Objectives: what do you want your audience to do / feel / experience

·  Resources required and costings

·  Preparation involved

·  Marketing

·  Staff required

·  Where will it take place?

·  Health & safety / management issues

·  Will you charge and how much?

·  How will you evaluate its success?

Evaluation

Who, when and how?