Saddleworth Museum – Our villages, past present and future

December 2025 – workshops on change with existing volunteers

January 2026 – complete the surveys and carry out the Saddleworth Museum Organisational Health Check

February – complete the workshops, survey and OHC report 

March – workshops to implement primary focus changes

April – workshops to set up secondary focus changes. From the primary focus list obtain quotes and prepare plans for community gallery capital project (new roof, refurbished galler and new kitchen).

May – project planning and implementation work continues. Inaugural volunteer meeeting 6th May with trustees, project manager and development officer. Volunteers emptied community gallery in preparation for capital building works.  Missed provisional start date of 18th May for the capital building works (new gallery roof, gallery refurbishment and new kitchen) due to lack of an agreed plan and switch of priorities to the summer programme and need for business plan. First volunteer meeting 20th May.

June – project planning and implementation work continues. Appointed two community artists on short term contracts to complte the summer programme. Awaiting cost estimates for the community gallery capital works programme (new roof, gallery refurbishment and new kitchen). “Vision” intriduced to museum trustees, staff and volunteers.

July – project planning and implementation work continues. The summer programme does not involve volunteers. The draft business plan is now the next priority. Scope change and “creep”  for the community gallery capital works programme (new roof, gallery refurbishment and new kitchen) suggestes a start date of 24th August. 

August – project planning and implementation work continues. The trustees adopted the business plan. The community gallery capital works programme (new roof, gallery refurbishment and new kitchen) started on the 24th August although elemenst of the solar panels and the gallery refurbishment and the new kitchen were still outstanding.

September – project planning and implementation work continues. The forward plan is now the next priority. The community gallery capital works programme:- 1) New roof (except for the solar panels connections) installed, 2)  Gallery refurbishment is now with the trustees again and 3)  The new kitchen is still with the working party. 

October – project planning and implementation work continues. The forward plan is now the next priority. Funding obtained for business manager post. The community gallery capital works programme:- 1) New roof (except for the solar panels connections) installed last month 2)  Gallery refurbishment in progress for completion during November and 3)  The new kitchen has now been ordered should be in during December

November – project planning and implementation work continues. The forward plan is now the next priority. Interviews for business manager planned. The community gallery capital works programme:- 1) Solar panels on new roof to be connected, 2)  Gallery refurbishment due for completion during November and 3)  The new kitchen should be in during December

December – project planning and implementation work continues. The forward plan is now the next priority. Appointment of business manager planned. The community gallery capital works programme:- 1) New roof with solar panels should be complete, 2)  Gallery refurbishment should be completed, and 3)  The new kitchen should be in during December

January – project planning and implementation work continues for another 3 months. The community gallery capital works programme should have been completed. Handover to the trustees and business manager of outstanding issues:- 1)  The Vision 2) The business plan 3) The forward plan  4) Wi-Fi upgrade 5) Accreditation 6) Formation of C.I.O. 7) Volunteer recruitment 8) Staff communication 9) Volunteer communication 10) other O.H.C. issues

February – project planning and implementation work continues for another 2 months. The community gallery capital works programme should have been completed. Handover to the trustees and business manager of outstanding issues:- 1)  The Vision 2) The business plan 3) The forward plan  4) Wi-Fi upgrade 5) Accreditation 6) Formation of C.I.O. 7) Volunteer recruitment 8) Staff communication 9) Volunteer communication 10) other O.H.C. issues

March – project planning and implementation work continues for another month. The community gallery capital works programme should have been completed. Handover to the trustees and business manager of outstanding issues:- 1)  The Vision 2) The business plan 3) The forward plan  4) Wi-Fi upgrade 5) Accreditation 6) Formation of C.I.O. 7) Volunteer recruitment 8) Staff communication 9) Volunteer communication 10) other O.H.C. issues