Volunteer with The Kent Mining Heritage Foundation

At a glance

Causes

Museums / heritage

Other details

Geographical remit:

Regional

Objectives

The Kent Mining Heritage Foundation (KMHF) was established in 2016, is a charitable incorporated organisation (Charity No. 1165403), and has three objectives:

To record and preserve Kent's mining heritage, and to further public understanding of old and new forms of energy
To provide facilities that foster health and social welfare, especially for those who suffer due to age, disability, social disadvantage; and
To enhance the quality of life in this disadvantaged community through the provision of education, skill-sharing and leisure activities.

The aims of the project are:

To collate and conserve the stories and collections of the Kent mining communities, in an exciting and engaging new museum;
To enable a wide range of people to participate in, and learn about, Kent’s mining heritage;
To conserve the heritage for present and future generations to experience and enjoy;
To celebrate the coalmining industry in Kent and its wide economic and social impact;
To bring together the Kent mining communities, their stories and collections - specifically Aylesham, Tilmanstone, Chislet, Dover Museum and East Kent Railway;
To engage a minimum of 180,000 visitors per annum with Kent’s mining heritage, within the Museum and wider Country Park and act as a gateway to other heritage sites.

The aims and objectives or the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation extend beyond the build of the Kent Mining Museum. Creating an engaging, inclusive and interesting raft of programmes and events to promote Kent’s mining heritage as an essential part of local history will be an ongoing body of work and as such there will be costs associated with the delivery of these elements.

Future funding will be required to assist with:

Community engagement
Reaching deprived communities
Providing accessible activities for all abilities and backgrounds
Improving leisure facilities across Betteshanger Country Park.
Enabling communities to access health & wellbeing activities
Developing learning around heritage and the natural environment
Managing the natural environment of Betteshanger Country Park.
Creating events of a cultural, sporting nature

Activities

Betteshanger Country Park was first established in 2007 when the former coal mining spoil heap was transformed into a space for people to access and explore the outdoors. The 80-hectare site has been slowly transformed over the years to become a centre for outdoor sporting and adventure activities and a space heavily used and loved by a dedicated group of users. The site provides access to a variety of environments including woodland, grassland and marshland. The Park currently attracts approximately 80,000 visitors per annum, which is made up of a core of regular and dedicated users.

Betteshanger Country Park is the most important cycling centre in East Kent, with a 3km road cycling track providing safe, traffic free road cycling facilities to tens of thousands of visitors each year. The track regularly hosts major regional, national and international cycling events. There are a further 15km of mountain bike trails, all of varying difficulty, designed to challenge and excite all levels of cyclist. The site receives thousands of school visits each year who take part in archery, orienteering, den building, fossil hunting, geo-caching and forest school, the site helps people to engage with and respect the outdoors and to actively participate in a range of sporting and outdoor activities.

The existing visitor facilities; toilets and shelter, are temporary. The creation of a new iconic Visitor Centre, that is 175m in length will become a landmark destination in East Kent, attracting an estimated 180,000 visitors per annum. The building will be home of the new Kent Mining Museum and will also house a learning and conferencing space, shop and café alongside a range of other services to support the park.

No current opportunities

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