Co-op Shoppers Raise £3k for Museum!

Staff and volunteers at Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum say they’re “delighted and astonished” to have received a donation of almost £3,000 from the Co-op Local Community Fund.

Earlier in the year, their ‘Hidden Histories’ exhibition project was chosen as one of the nominated causes to receive funds from Co-op members who shop at local stores and use Co-op services in the Nottinghamshire area, including the Ruddington branch. Funding for the project ended in April 2017 and they’ve just found out that they’ll soon be receiving a cheque for an impressive £2,998.06.

Nicola Wood, Museum Manager & Curator, comments: “This is the second time the Framework Knitters Museum has been lucky enough to be chosen to receive donations from the Co-op Local Community Fund. Once again, we’re astounded by the support and generosity of Co-op members in Ruddington and the surrounding area. We really can’t thank you enough as it’s down to you that the ‘Hidden Histories’ exhibition project will become a reality.”

‘Hidden Histories’ will involve a series of workshops to explore and capture the oral memories of Ruddington people, with a particular reference to working life past and present within the village. The project will also seek to uncover any new information on past residents and employees of the framework knitters’ cottages at the museum site. Supported by volunteers and student researchers, the museum says it will work alongside local community groups and individuals to capture these stories for future generations.

Explains Nicola: “We’ll use the findings and outcome from the workshops to create an exciting new temporary exhibition in the Chapel Art Gallery, which will tell these stories to a multi-generational audience. The ‘Hidden Histories’ project will give our local community a fantastic opportunity to archive and share their heritage with present and future generations.”

Meantime both The Friends of St Peter’s School and The Friends of James Peacock School have been accepted for the NEW round of the Co-op Local Community Fund at our Ruddington store. To give your support specifically to either of these you’ll need to go online at http://coop.co.uk/membership. Once you’ve registered you can select your chosen cause.