SWAFFHAM Museum has secured an important grant which will allow its education officer to continue crucial work for another year.Earlier this year the Times revealed the museum was in danger of losing its professional staff if cash was not raised to fund the salaries of its curator and education officer.

SWAFFHAM Museum has secured an important grant which will allow its education officer to continue crucial work for another year.

Earlier this year the Times revealed the museum was in danger of losing its professional staff if cash was not raised to fund the salaries of its curator and education officer.

But the Foyle Foundation has awarded £12,000 which will allow education officer Elaine Brown to continue her work both in the museum and in outreach sessions as well as conduct reminiscence sessions in nursing homes.

Since the museum reopened last march, Ms Brown has worked with over 1,000 school pupils from around Norfolk.

Last year she co-ordinated a series of Time Trails around Swaffham, based on Swaffham's historic characters. The activities involved costumed living history interpreters recounting their tales in various locations throughout the market town.

“It's a brilliant job and I am very glad to be able to continue my work for another year,” Ms Brown said.

“I've been with the museum for almost two years now. My work is very exciting as I am involved with lots of different schools in outreach sessions as well as at the museum.”

This year she hopes to run more popular Time Trails throughout the summer months. She will also organise similar Egyptian art sessions during the upcoming half-term.

She is also preparing to host Walk Like An Egyptian art sessions next Wednesday. The four sessions will focus on Egyptian jewellery and headdresses.

Also, today she will host a visit of nine students from Sculthorpe who will learn about the activities at the museum.

The museum's education services include lending to schools boxes covering various topics such as the Ancient Egyptians, Tudors and the second world war. There are also memory boxes for reminiscence sessions as well as in-house and outreach teaching sessions.

“The continued growth of the Education Service, which provides a valuable facility to the town's children, would not have been possible without the generous support from the Foyle Foundation,” said David Wickerson, company secretary of Swaffham Museum Ltd, the firm running the venue.

The museum is now open Tuesday to Saturday, plus bank holidays, from 10am to 4pm, through to December 20. There are new displays, as well as the Carter Connection exhibit about Howard Carter and Tutankhamun.

For more information visit the newly designed website at www.swaffhammuseum.co.uk

The Walk Like An Egyptian art sessions will cost £2.50 per child. To book your place, call the museum on 01760 721230.