Dean Heritage Centre logo

Support Us

The Dean Heritage Centre relies completely on income from visitors. We are a charity, and receive no government funding.  With not enough income the site will close forever.  If the DHC closes then all the Forest of Dean collections and archive will no longer have a place within the Forest. 

We care, and if you care too then please help us and become a Supporter of DHC. If you are someone who cares about the Forest of Dean, and wants to preserve its heritage, wants to know more about the stories of the people who lived and worked here and cares for nature and wildlife support us today. 

 

How you can help 

 

Volunteer 

There are many ways you can get involved with the Dean Heritage Centre and we offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities across our five acre woodland site. 

We really value the important work of our current volunteers who provide continued support across all areas of the site, in order to offer a wide range of services 360 days a year. If you are interested in becoming part of our team, we’d love to hear from you. Please call us on 01594 822170 or email about volunteer opportunities to discuss your interests and availability. 

 

Social 

The Dean Heritage Centre is a popular start to a lot of people's holidays in the Forest of Dean and as a front of house volunteer you are among the most visible faces of the charity and contribute hugely to how the public see us and the work we do. They are the first port of call for visitors and their role includes working in the shop, selling tickets and answering visitor enquiries. 

Historical 

The Dean Heritage Centre was created to provide a home for historical items that illustrate the vibrant and important history and heritage of the local area. Cataloguing and caring for the collection is a vital activity that ensures the history of the Forest of Dean is never forgotten. 

Education 

We cater as a key resource to a wide range of groups from independent researchers to local school students. We are always looking to expand our offering and improve the visitor learning experience. From costumed interpretation to supporting our education officer, our education volunteers are hands on and get really involved!  

Outdoors 

The site is set across five acres of beautiful woodland and our maintenance team work hard to keep the paths clear and the site safe. A lot happens behind the scenes of the centre and volunteering is a fantastic way to learn about woodland management.  

Events 

The centre always has a busy events calendar which is a great way for individuals who are unable to commit to regular days to help the centre. We appreciate support at all levels whether it's distributing posters or helping out on the day of a big event. 

 

 

Trustees 

The Dean Heritage Museum Trust has a board of trustees who oversee the strategy and direction of the organisation.Currently we have 5 trustees and could do with more to join our team. Have a look at the description on the job vacancies pageof this website and contact us for more information.We do more than just come along to meetings and look over reports and being a trustee is a challenging role, which ultimately can be extremely rewarding.If you have some skills you feel might be useful and would like to find out more about becoming a trustee then email the Chair of Trustees or call the Centre on 01594 822170. 

We would love to welcome you to our team. 

Iain Baird 

Chair of Trustees 

 

 

Collections and Donations 

Dean Heritage Centre collections cover archaeology, natural history, geology, industrial history and social history on the Forest of Dean. There are approximately 20,000 items in the collection. 

Donations 

Dean Heritage Centre continues to collect items relevant to the Forest of Dean. If you would like to donate any items, please contact the Collections Officer. The Museum is grateful for donations, but is unable to take everything it is offered due to lack of storage space and a strict collecting policy so please make contact with us before bringing in any objects to avoid a wasted journey. 

Contact 

For any enquiries about the collection, donations, archaeology, object identification, local history and family history please contact Collections Officer Nicola Wynn on 01594 822170 or email Nicola@deanheritagecentre.com 

 

Corporate Support 

The Dean Heritage Centre was set up by the Forest of Dean Rotary club who have helped out throughout the past 35 years and continue to do so. 

Our local public supporters - who have donated one off and regular amounts to help keep their museum in business. 

In the recent past we have also had grants and donations from: 

To whom we owe a big Thank You!