ONE OF THE TOP THREE VISITOR ATTRACTIONS IN ENGLAND - NOW UNDER THREAT?
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has decided to make savings by moving its Sport & Leisure Services and its Museums & Culture Services out to a Community Interest Company (CIC) or a Charitable Trust, either separately or together.Obviously, Sport & Leisure Services are very different from Museums. Each have very different audiences, needs and aims. Unlike Sport & Leisure, Museums have their emphasis on education, families, serving the local communities and heritage tourism.
Many would like the Museums & Culture Service to stay with the City Council. But if the City is determined to move it off their books then those in the know prefer the Charitable Trust option.
The Friends of the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery (which includes Gladstone Pottery Museum) are 'wholly unconvinced' that the CIC is the right vehicle for Stoke's Museums. The Friends Council would prefer to see the establishment of a Charitable Trust because of the significant benefits which the option offers in terms of access to gift aid and philanthropic giving.
MORE INFORMATION?
- You can find out more in this link, and if you agree, then you might like to sign the petition.
- You can also have your say directly with the Stoke City Council here>
- If you are Twitter fan you may wish to use the hashtag #trust4Gladstone
Consultations finish on 31 May 2015