Eureka! Press Release
For immediate release:
Contact:
Tel:
24 June 2014
Sophie Ballinger press.office@eureka.org.uk
01422 330069
Eureka! wins international award for inclusion project
Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax, West Yorkshire is
celebrating being the recipient of a Promising Practice Award from the Metlife
Foundation and Association of Children’s Museum.
The international Promising Practice Awards, awarded annually, recognise
innovative work being undertaken in Children’s Museums around the world.
In 2014, Eureka! is among fifteen children’s museums being celebrated.
Recipients of the awards receive a $5,000 grant and a profile on the MetLife
Foundation Research & Practice Exchange database, which provides more
than 100 summaries of award-winning Promising Practices.
Eureka! was selected for the award for their reinterpretation of a project run
originally by Virginia Discovery Museum in the USA, called Special Needs
Volunteerism. Eureka! is expanding Helping Hands, their award-winning
inclusion project to include Volunteer-ability, an empowering pilot volunteer
program for young, disabled adults. Working in partnership with the Next
Step Trust, Volunteer-ability will provide an authentic “work” arena to help
with integration into Eureka!’s day-to-day operations, helping the volunteers
to develop valuable workplace skills and knowledge. Eventually, Eureka! has
a vision whereby disabled children who use their Helping Hands services will
have the opportunity to volunteer for the museum as young adults.
Eureka! Chief Executive Leigh-Anne Stradeski, who collected the award, said
“Volunteer-ability will provide valuable, genuine work experience
opportunities that will make a fundamental difference to the lives of young
people with complex disabilities. The funding we have received through this
award enables us to commit the necessary time and resources to this very
worthy initiative. It’s especially gratifying as it follows hot on the heels of our
VisitEngland Access for All Silver award, and is further recognition of our
ongoing commitment to inclusion.”
Other recipients of Promising Practice Awards in 2014 are:
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Amazement Square, The Rightmire Children’s Museum (Virginia, USA)
Brooklyn Children’s Museum (New York, USA)
Children’s Museum of Denver (Colorado, USA)
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate (South Carolina, USA)
The Children’s Museum of Wilmington (North Carolina, USA)
The Discovery Museums (Massachusetts, USA)
EcoTarium (Massachusetts, USA)
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Imaginosity, Dublin Children’s Museum (Dublin, Ireland)
KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Washington, USA)
Madison Children’s Museum (Wisconsin, USA)
Minnesota Children’s Museum (Minnesota, USA)
Portland Children’s Museum (Oregon, USA)
Pretend City Children’s Museum (California, USA)
World Awareness Children’s Museum (New York, USA)
ENDS
Images:
 Leigh-Anne Stradeski accepts the 2014 Promising Practice Award from
Pattie Dyer from MetLife
 Leigh-Anne Stradeski with representatives from the other 2014 award
recipients
For photos or additional press information please contact Sophie Ballinger on
01422 330069, or email press.office@eureka.org.uk.
Notes to the Editor
About Eureka! The National Children’s Museum
1. For more information about Eureka!’s Helping Hands project, visit
www.eureka.org.uk
2. Helping Hands was awarded Silver in the VisitEngland Awards for
Excellence 2014, Access for All category, and Bronze in the 2013
awards.
3. Eureka! is designed especially for children aged 0-11, with over 400
hands-on exhibits inspiring them to learn about themselves and the
world around them through imagination, play and discovery. For visitor
information call 01422 330069, visit www.eureka.org.uk, become a
fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
4. The standard Eureka! ticket is also an Annual Pass, letting all of the
party paid for on the day of the first visit to come back to Eureka! free
of charge as many times as they like over the next 12 months. Adults:
£11.95, Children age 3+ : £11.95, Toddlers age 1-2: £4.25, Babies
age 0-11 months: free. Read more about the Annual Pass.
5. Eureka! is open 10am–5pm at weekends, during half-terms and
holidays. Term-time Eureka! is open 10am –4pm Tuesday - Friday,
and 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. The museum is closed on termtime Mondays and between 24-26 December.
6. Eureka! is situated next door to Halifax railway station, just 10
minutes by car from junction 24 of the M62 and 17 miles from Leeds
7. Eureka! is an educational charity no. 292758
About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s
longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community
involvement. Their commitment is to build a secure future for individuals and
communities worldwide. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has
provided more than $570 million in grants to nonprofit organisations
addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. For more
information visit www.MetLife.org
About Association of Children’s Museums
Begun in 1962, ACM is a professional member service organisation for the
children’s museum field. ACM is the only organisation representing museums
and professionals dedicated to early childhood play, the starting point in the
continuum of lifelong learning. ACM strengthens children’s museums to be
essential community assets by: convening InterActivity conferences;
collecting research and best practices; and initiating national and
international partnerships with opportunities for local collaboration. ACM
leadership initiatives include Good to Grow!, Diversity in Action and Playing
for Keeps. ACM partners with a variety of campaigns and organisations
including Let’s Move! Museums and Gardens, American Academy of
Pediatrics, World Wildlife Federation, Nickelodeon, Parents Choice
Foundation, National Association of the Education of Young Children,
Association of Science-Technology Centers and American Alliance of
Museums. Advocating that children’s museums – which annually serve more
than 31 million visitors – are a major force in the informal learning
community is a priority for ACM and its members. The Association promotes
the impact children’s museums have in preparing children for school, building
21st century skills and nurturing a love for lifelong learning. To learn more
about ACM and the InterActivity 2014: Are We There Yet? international
conference, visit www.ChildrensMuseums.org
About The Next Step Trust
The Next Step Trust is a charity comprising parents, carers and professionals
working together with a common, single purpose: To offer a day provision in
Calderdale for young people over the age of 19 with severe and complex
needs.
The Next Step Trust is an energetic, professional and established day care
facility specifically designed to meet and enhance the needs of young adults
with severe and complex needs. Staffed with highly committed and
experienced carers and support workers, we provide a stimulating
environment to maintain and develop essential life skills across a wide range
of physical and learning abilities.
Originally conceived by a small group of dedicated parents whose vision was
to maintain and nurture the high level of support and stimulation their
children had previously received in special education, and extend this beyond
the age of nineteen - The Next Step Trust has rapidly matured in to a wide
community with strong foundations offering long-term commitment and
support.