Time Travelling project scoops national heritage award

An innovative schools project based at Southwell Minster, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, has received a national heritage award for Education.

Southwell Minster’s Time Travelling project, which is backed by the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, draws more than 7,000 children from across the county for its series of daily programmes during the year.

The Sandford Award for Heritage Education recognises an education service of quality and integrity which contributes to heritage education within the historic environment. The award, which was presented by David 000Lammy, MP, Minister for Culture, DCMS, was awarded for the education service provided jointly by Time Travelling and the Minster Education Officer, Toni Bush.

Assistant Manager for Time Travelling, Diana Ives said: “It is a real credit to our volunteer team that Time Travelling and the Education Office at the Minster continue to provide such a high level of service to so many schools in Nottinghamshire. We are thrilled to have our work officially recognised by an independent organisation.”

Diana helps co-ordinate the project with Time Travelling manager, Emma Anderton. Each of the days involves dozens of volunteers, who act as guides for the groups of children from local schools. The days begin with a joint service, before the children split into groups to take part in a whole range of activities around the Minster, from drama and music to learning about fair trade and what a bishop does.

Director of Education for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rev'd Dr. Howard Worsley said: “Time Travelling is one of those mission projects that has become a major part in the life of Southwell Diocese. It has grown from relatively small beginnings to function annually for key stage one children (age 5 to 7) and separately for key stage two children (age 7 to 11) with an army of slightly older leaders and pilgrim guides. It is truly All Age in its appeal, fully mission focused in its attention to those on the fringes of Church and definitely educational with its emphasis on the curriculum and teaching of our historic faith as a living reality. Since my time as Director of Education (one year) I’ve received a stream of compliments for the Diocese about Time Travelling from our Church schools, who cannot get enough of it.”

The assessment report for the awards noted that the programme for Time Travelling carefully managed to cater for every eventuality and was an example of organizational genius. During a visit to the project they saw how around 500 children and 70 volunteers, along with members of the public visiting the cathedral, were all organized through a host of fun-packed activities around the Minster.

The next programme of Time Travelling for schools at the Minster will run from 6th -17th March 2006.