Sheffield's National Emergency Services Museum gets set to reopen to visitors

If you have recently walked past Sheffield’s National Emergency Services Museum (NESM) at West Bar and glanced through its windows, you might have noticed a hive of activity as the museum gets ready to reopen to visitors on Wednesday (September 9).
Popular exhibits like the City of Sheffield Lifeboat are waiting to be explored at Sheffield's National Emergency Services MuseumPopular exhibits like the City of Sheffield Lifeboat are waiting to be explored at Sheffield's National Emergency Services Museum
Popular exhibits like the City of Sheffield Lifeboat are waiting to be explored at Sheffield's National Emergency Services Museum

After almost six months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic it’s an exciting moment for the small team of staff and volunteers who run this independent, self-funded museum based in a former police, fire and ambulance station in the city centre.

It’s also a moment that, during the height of the lockdown, they feared might never happen.

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2020 looked like being a record-breaking year for NESM thanks to higher-than- ever visitor numbers and a packed schedule of events. Then came the pandemic.

When the museum closed its doors indefinitely on March 18 the income it relies on to survive stopped overnight. It was estimated that NESM lost out on around £88,000 in the first three months of closure alone.

Its future was then thrown into serious doubt after it was turned down for, or was unable to access, any emergency coronavirus funding. It was forced to issue a stark warning that without additional help it may have to close its doors for good and its unique and extensive collection could be lost.

An urgent appeal was launched and, after a fantastic response from members of the public, local businesses and the local community NESM was able to raise vital funds to help towards its survival.

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Now, at last, the museum is preparing to welcome visitors once more when it reopens at 9am on Wednesday September 9 - national 999 Day. It’s a milestone to be celebrated but the team, headed by chief executive Matthew Wakefield, is well aware that the challenge is far from over.

The National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield has been closed since MarchThe National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield has been closed since March
The National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield has been closed since March

He said: “ It’s brilliant news that we are reopening but so many things are still uncertain, not least if and when people will feel ready to visit us. But we’ve always prided ourselves in offering a fantastic visitor experience and that’s what we’ll continue to try and do.

So what can visitors expect from a trip to post-lockdown NESM?

Of course there’s all the changes you would expect to see that are becoming familiar everywhere; social distancing, face coverings, screened-off tills, one-way systems and hand sanitizer stations are all in evidence.

Chief executive Matthew Wakefield says the support of the local community has been and remains crucialChief executive Matthew Wakefield says the support of the local community has been and remains crucial
Chief executive Matthew Wakefield says the support of the local community has been and remains crucial
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The museum’s original Victorian cells and police garage will also remain closed - social distancing being difficult in such a tight space - and NESM’s popular weekend fire engine rides aren’t returning just yet.

For the first time visitors can also pre-book tickets via the museum’s website and pay online, and are encouraged to do so. Numbers are restricted and anyone arriving on the day hoping to enjoy a visit might be disappointed.

But the great news for new and returning visitors alike is that there is still plenty to see and do, from old favourites like NESM’s 47-foot lifeboat and horse-drawn ambulance to a brand new exhibition gallery. In fact the size and scope of the museum and the breadth of its collection is something that often surprises people.

Matthew said: “We still meet people who know our museum from years ago and say to us ‘but it’s just fire engines isn’t it?’ and we are very quick to let them know that we’re much, much more than that!

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"We have exhibitions and objects stretching across three floors of our historic building covering the history of all the emergency services, from fire, police and ambulance to the RNLI and mountain rescue.

“It’s not just about the objects either, although we have an extensive collection from huge vehicles to the smallest personal items. How we can use these to tell stories, give an insight into the lives of people in the past and engage people of all ages in history - even people who may not usually visit a museum - is something that we work very hard on.”

One way the museum has always sought to engage even the youngest visitors in this way is through hands-on activities; a particular challenge in the current climate.

But, with added safety precautions in place, NESM has been able not just to reinstate many of its interactive activities - there are still engines to be climbed in and bells to be rung! - but also introduce new ones, including a driving simulator to help youngsters learn about road safety.

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In addition to these activities visitors will also find a whole new exhibition waiting to be explored. The team took the opportunity ahead of reopening to refurbish the museum’s main display room into a new gallery telling the story of the fire service from its origins in the 17th century up to the 1920s.

A host of objects not previously on display have been brought out from NESM’s extensive collection, including fire equipment dating back more than 200 years.

Other areas of the museum have also been given a lick of paint and, behind the scenes, work to reorganise archive spaces means the museum’s extensive collection can be cared for and preserved for many years to come.

Matthew said: “When we issued our appeal for help in May the response from the local community was amazing and showed us just how much the museum means to so many people.

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"It’s one of the many reasons why we were absolutely determined that we would survive and continue to celebrate the amazing contribution of the emergency services.

“The fact that we are now able to reopen is fantastic news not just for us but for all our friends and supporters. Our next challenge is to encourage our visitors back, stay Covid-safe and start to bring in the income we’ve been without for the last six months.

"To do that, we’ll need the help and support of the local community once more. So come and see us!”

For more information, to book tickets and to read more about what to expect from a visit to NESM, go to www.visitnesm.org.uk.

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