The project included adapting the museum’s summer house, to create an accessible and covered space in its garden which could be used by community groups and local businesses.
Since the work completed, the Framework Knitters Museum has hosted tea ceremonies for Lunar New Year and children from the local Hermitage Pre-school.
This is one of 15 projects to receive grants between £5,000 and £40,000 in 2023/4 from Rushcliffe Borough Council as part of its £400,000 allocation to grants from UKSPF and Rural England Prosperity Funding (REPF) – which is part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda to provide funding for local investment.
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Director Development & Economic Growth Leanne Ashmore said: “Through UKSPF we were really pleased to support this exciting project which has helped to create a new accessible and sheltered space in the museum’s garden which can be used all year round.
“It’s great to see this new facility is now being used by a variety of community groups and local businesses for meetings, events, workshops and more.
“The Framework Knitters Museum is a fantastic landmark in the borough with a rich history and attracts thousands of visitors each year and the new garden shelter is a great asset to the site which has enabled the museum to accommodate demand for a community space.”
Sarah Godfrey, creative and commercial manager at the museum, said: “We’re very grateful to Rushcliffe Borough Council and the UKSPF funding, not only has it improved our outside space, but it has allowed us to create a much more accessible area.
“Since works finished on the summer house, we have welcomed a variety of groups and organisations to use the space. Now our garden is fit for all weather types we have bookings throughout the year, which has helped to create another source of income for the museum.”