Brighton Toy and Model Museum has received £57,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project, ‘Toys in the Community: Valuing Memories of dolls, teddy bears and construction toys’. Involving volunteers from the local community, the 2-year project will collect memories from a range of people and use these to create a website, book and touring exhibition which will visit local venues. It will also run community outreach sessions to enable people to share their memories of toys and handle examples of dolls, teddy bears and construction toys from a range of time periods.

Volunteers involved in the project will be able to learn new skills, including interviewing, photographic and videoing skills. They will also help to curate the touring exhibition. By interviewing people of all ages and backgrounds, the project will help to create links between different members of the local community. Stuart McLeod, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South East England, said: “Toys from years past stir memories of childhood and community. This project will capture these and in so doing add a new dimension to its fascinating collection.”

Anyone interested in being involved in the project, either as a volunteer or by being interviewed, is welcome to contact the museum on 01273 749494 or by email memories@brightontoymuseum.co.uk