Essex Engagement & Learning
On this page you will find an overview of Essex museums and their learning offers, and below that, information on the Essex Heritage Engagement & Learning Group. The group is a network of staff and volunteers from museums and heritage sites across the county.
Essex museums
Discover the inspiring range of learning activities and education resources that our Essex museums offer to people of all ages.
Scouts Heritage Service
Website
Activities: downloadable learning resources, tours, talks, handling
Themes: Scouting, First & Second World War, remembrance, refugee experience, history of childhood
Braintree Museum
Website
Activities: school visits, online resources, Artsmark, craft sessions, Girlguiding/Scouting sleepovers
Themes: Victorians, World War II and Evacuees, Natural & Local History
Colchester Museums
Website
Activities: visits, teacher packs, Castle in the Classroom, Arts Award
Themes: Castle in the Classroom (virtual tour), Romans in Colchester, Victorian Lives, Toys and Homes
Harlow Sculpture Town
Website
Activities: Sculpture walks, artist-led workshops, gallery visits, learning resources
Themes: Sculpture, public art, twentieth century art, Harlow
Chelmsford Museum
Website
Activities: Learning sessions, loan boxes, Children’s activity bags and trails, Scouting badges, SEND provision
Themes: Local history, Stone Age to Iron Age, Marconi and Radio, Victorian Life, World Wars, Natural History
Saffron Walden Museum
Website
Activities: Sessions on site & outreach. Loan boxes, online learning, SEND provision, holiday family activities & resources for young adults
Themes: Pre-history through to WW2, local history, geology, natural history, art and design
Epping Forest District Museum
Website
Activities: Sessions on-site & outreach, loan boxes, virtual sessions, SEND provision, early years. Holiday family activities.
Themes: Pre-history through to WW2, local history, arts award
Essex Heritage Engagement & Learning Group
The Essex Heritage Engagement & Learning Group is a forum for education, learning and engagement professionals in Essex to learn, share, inspire and build their network. This is done mainly through quarterly meetings which often include training.
If you would like to get in touch to discuss learning and engagement projects or collaborations across different museums, this group is a good place to start.
The Essex MDO runs this group and is currently being recruited so group activity is on hold – look out for updated contact details on this page later in 2022 to get in touch.
Freelance support
The following people (part of the Essex Heritage Engagement & Learning Group) may be able to help your museum or school.
Claire Driver – Heritage learning and engagement freelancer with a special interest in early years and community projects. Email: info@clairedriver.co.uk
Valina Bowman Burns – museum learning freelancer specialising in education, strategy development and fundraising. hello.bblearns@gmail.com
Jo Gillam – Heritage Freelancer specialising in education, interpretation and disability access (especially autism). Jo’s training offer includes online and in person delivery and covers general disability access, autism, neurodiversity, dementia, learning disabilities and sensory needs. Email: 1jogillam@gmail.com Twitter: @1accessforall Web: https://www.jogillam.com/
Museums Essex 