Friends of Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre

The Friends of Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre is a Registered Charity – number 1092330. It is an unincorporated association governed by a Constitution and managed by an annually elected Committee who are also the Charity Trustees.

The current Friends group was set up in 2001 and its purpose is to support and assist the Museum and to promote its use and enjoyment by the public in co-operation with its Trustees and Director.

The Friends support the Museum by making grants from fundraising, donations and legacies given to the Friends. The principal source of fundraising is from the sale of donated items in the Emporium formerly the Fairmile Cafe which was located on the A29 between Whiteways Lodge roundabout and Slindon and moved to the Museum in 2002.

There are many Friends groups across the Country supporting their local Museums at a time of reduced income and fewer visitor numbers. The Friends of Amberley Museum needs to be the fundraiser, supporter and flag waver for our Museum.

We encourage Visitors, Members of the Museum, Volunteers, Staff and Museum Trustees to browse inside the Emporium for that special or unusual something they may not have found elsewhere. With every purchase you make from the Emporium you are helping support the Museum in maintaining its exhibits that our Visitors love to see. We welcome the receipt of good quality books and other saleable items that you are happy to donate.

As an example of the financial support given by the Friends to the Museum, in 2023 we made 26 grants totalling £44,259.29, the largest of which was £24,810.00 to pay repair costs for Polar Bear steam locomotive prior to its 10 year boiler pressure test.

The different types of fundraising events put on by the Friends include twice yearly quiz nights, Christmas Wreath Making Workshops, talks by people with specialist knowledge such as other Museums and Commonwealth War Graves. We have established regular Spring and Autumn Book Sales and are working on other upcoming events. We are always looking for other ways to bring the Amberley community together and for innovative ways to fundraise. If you have a specialist area of knowledge or skill and are willing to offer your time please do get in touch with me.

Members, staff and volunteers are eligible to join the Friends. There is no joining fee or subscription and all that is needed is to complete a form obtainable from the Emporium, Museum office or from myself. We are always happy to welcome new Friends. If you have any spare time we have availability for volunteering in the Emporium and also during the summer months in the Pepper Lane Stop catering trailer, so if this is something you are interested in please contact me.

Currently the Friends are looking to recruit up to four new Committee members so if you would like to become involved in the decision-making process and get to know more about how we operate, becoming a Committee member could be just right for you so please contact me.

We are so grateful for all donations and legacy monies received from Friends and other followers. Please think of Amberley Museum when drawing up your Will. Further information on this subject can be obtained from the Museum.

Pauline Merritt – Chair of the Friends

Email: pauline10merritt@yahoo.co.uk