Thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of almost £300,000, the Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland can now get its 'Call to Action' project underway.

The museum, located at Alnwick Castle, tells the story of a North East regiment with a record of 340 years of continuous service, from its origin in 1674 to the present day. Known in its time as the Fifth of Foot, and as the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, it is now part of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. 

As part of the project the Fusiliers Museum will be recruiting an Activities Officer with a brief to bring the museum to life with activities for young visitors and to develop outreach activities for a range of other groups. The Activities Officer will also have responsibility for supporting volunteers and recruiting new members to the existing volunteer team.

The new recruit will begin by working with volunteers on developing a special exhibition to mark the centenary of the First World War. The exhibition, on the museum’s ground floor, will run for three years. It will commemorate the service of the Northumberland Fusiliers, who raised 52 battalions in WW1, and the exhibition will look at the links between soldiers on service and their families at home. There will also be events and activities for young people and families, and opportunities to handle objects from the museum’s collections.

At the same time, the two upper floors of the museum will be refurbished and brought up-to-date. They will trace themes across 340 years of the regiment’s history and also tell the stories of people and personalities from the regiment, their service and in some cases their later lives. Volunteers will play important roles, whether researching, developing, or presenting community-based projects, demonstrations or talks, long into the future, ensuring a lasting legacy for the ‘Call to Action’ project.

Ivor Crowther, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North East, said: “In the run-up to the centenary of the First World War, we are remembering the sacrifices made by men and women across the country more than ever. The Call to Action project will provide a great opportunity for everyone to explore the stories of local people involved in the conflict and learn about what life was like during the war. We at the Heritage Lottery Fund are proud to be supporting this important project.”

John Armstrong, the Chair of the Museum Trustees, said: “The museum is so grateful for the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.  HLF support means that the museum can mark the service of the soldiers of the Northumberland Fusiliers in the First World War with a special exhibition and activities, something so important for the museum to do. And now we’re really looking forward to developing volunteering, doing more in the community, and telling our story better for everyone; all thanks to HLF support.”

Further information

Laura Bates, HLF press office on 020 5916027 or lbates@hlf.org.uk

John Armstrong, Northumberland Fusiliers Museum on 0191 2815 953 or fusnorthld@aol.com