Awards & Accreditation

Full Accreditation achieved in 2010

The New Forest Museum is delighted to announced that  Full Accreditation status has been achieved in 2010.  This recognises how we strive to meet the needs of today’s visitors, while at the same time safeguarding our collections for future generations.  Under the scheme the New Forest Centre is required to provide:

• opportunities to use, enjoy and learn from the collections

• an assurance that the collections, including donated items, are held in trust for society
• information about the museum, its collections and its services
• a commitment to consultation with users, to ensure that future developments and changes take account of their needs and interests
• appropriate visitor facilities or details about facilities nearby.

Registered Museum

The New Forest Centre had full Registered Museum Status from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) under the Museum Registration Scheme that was established in 1988.  The aims of the scheme are to:

• Encourage all museums and galleries to achieve agreed minimum standards in museum management, collection care and public services;
• Foster confidence in museums as repositories of our common heritage and managers of public resources;
• Provide a shared ethical basis for all bodies involved in the preservation of the heritage which meet the definition of a 'museum'.

In 2004, the Scheme was renamed Accreditation to better reflect its purpose and the achievements of those museums which meet the standards it sets out.

	Registered Museum with Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's (MLA)
	AIM Member AIM – the organisation for independent museums – was founded to encourage new standards in the provision of service to users. AIM represents the strengths and needs in national policy making and provides a thriving network of information and help for members.
SAFEchild	The New Forest Centre is a member of SAFEchild, a registered charity dedicated to child protection. Our education staff have undertaken child protection training and CRB checks.  We have a child protection policy and carry out all relevant risk assessments.
	The Family Friendly logo provides an instantly-recognisable guarantee of quality family friendly facilities at member museums. The Family Friendly initiative is part of the Tourism South East Family Fun campaign and is funded in part by Renaissance in the Regions - the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's (MLA) groundbreaking programme to transform England's regional museums and galleries.
	Green Leaf Tourism Scheme The Green Leaf Tourism Scheme (GLTS) is part of a national pilot for sustainable tourism in the UK. New Forest District Council and GLTS businesses have made a commitment to supporting: Car-Free Tourism New Forest Marque Produce Energy Waste & Recycling initiatives Landscape Conservation Forest Friends - Visitor Stewardship Community Tourism
	VAQAS recommended VisitBritain’s Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme was launched nationally in 2001.  It is a consumer focused quality assessment service for all types of visitor attractions.
	Heritage Lottery Fund