Mystery Tour Programme

The story so far…

AimStarted in late 2013, the aim of #MysteryTour is to make heritage more exciting and accessible for children and young people and assess against Quality Principles.

Youth engagement130 young people between 0-25 years have engaged from across the West Midlands. We have worked with young people with a range of disabilities and learning difficulties (including autism and wheelchair users) and from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

Our approach Participants are invited to: ● visit heritage venues● review the facilities● feedback about how services can be improved.

Findings and recommendations are then collated into a report.

This is submitted to the venues based on the evaluation and ideas gathered and in order to support development activity.

Visits to date include: • Worcestershire County Museum• Kidderminster Museum of Carpets• Winterbourne House and Gardens• Blists Hill and Enginuity Museums at Ironbridge, • Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Mary Arden’s Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon• Samuel Johnson’s Birthplace and Erasmus Darwin House in Lichfield• The Infirmary at Worcester University• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery• Thinktank Science Museum• Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge• Oak House, West Bromwich• National Memorial Arboretum• A week-long residential to Ingestre Hall, Staffordshire• Aston Hall, Birmingham• Heritage Motor Centre• Midlands Arts Centre (MAC)

Experts in their own rightWe aim to nurture young consultants and give them a voice in the future of arts, heritage and cultural provision for young people.

Exploring at their own pace

Participants free roam the venues and explore without restrictions. The agenda for the day is engineered to provide both structure and freedom.

Flexible evaluation

We use a range of techniques to allow participants the freedom to voice their opinions and ideas. Our feedback process is tailored to suit the young people instead of the facilitators.

Group discussion & feedback

We encourage youth led conversation and use evaluation techniques that give all participants an opportunity to share.

Embracing technology

Peer to peer interviews generate a greater depth of feedback. We encourage young people to document the day on their phones to create a more personal experience.

Social media & sharing#mysterytour

Participants are invited to upload their photos, videos and ideas to the Mystery Tour Facebook group, and share their views on Twitter. They also contribute to the blog to give them a voice outside of the project.

Freedom to express

No venue staff are present during feedback sessions to prevent any pressure to ‘say the right thing’. This strategy makes sure the feedback remains authentic.

Working with their peers

Interchanging between natural and organised groups allow young people to build relationships within the group, creating a comfortable environment to share in.

Accessibility & inclusion

Our group includes young people with a range of disabilities including autism, learning difficulties, physical disabilities and challenging behaviour who act as our inclusion specialists during each visit, and who advise how heritage venues can make reasonable adjustments to their cultural offer.

Exciting, inspiring & engaging

Creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere allows the participants to feel comfortable and supported enough to express their opinions. We maintain an informal relationship between young people and facilitators.

‘The Past is Now’

A weeklong residential interpretation project at Ingestre Hall in Staffordshire

1. Actively involve children and young people2. Welcome the young people to the venue3. Heritage venues need to make new, fresh memories 4. Network and create partnerships with local schools

and groups5. Embrace social media6. Make the venue relevant to the young people7. Always think about learning and play styles8. Positive staff interaction 9. Alternatives for disabled visitors10.Youth led

WiP’s top tips

Business benefits Our programme helps you,● provide insight and feedback from young

audiences/visitors;● suggest improvements to your venue/attraction;● input into your future programming and decision

making;● improve your venue/attraction’s approach to youth

engagement.

In turn, our programme helps you to make a case for future investments and fundraising.

www.workinprogress.uk.com@WiPArtsUK

info@workinprogress.uk.com0121 476 1837

Would you like to know more about how #mysterytour and how it can benefit your organisation?

We’d love to talk to you further and discuss what best suits your setting.

Want to try us out?