Work to start on 'transformation' of RAF Museum Cosford thanks to funding boost

Staff at the RAF Museum in Cosford have today announced that a funding boon has been secured from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their major development programme.

An initial windfall of £713,222 has been awarded in the first round of funding, which means the museum will now enter into a development phase before work commences in 2025.

RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton said: "I’d like to thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of all our staff, volunteers and trustees for the generous support they have given us – we could not be happier.

"We’re one step closer to our ambitious plans becoming a reality, made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

"Over the coming months we will continue to work closely with our local communities to develop the project, ensuring we deliver spaces that will make a vital and positive change to people’s lives across the Midlands and beyond."

The museum has been granted round one development funding of £713,222 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Detailed proposals are then considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at the second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £5 million."

Plans for the major development include an immersive exhibition which will be created to explore today's Royal Air Force and its critical role over the last 40 years.

Interactive displays will invite visitors to discover more about the RAF's mission, as well as how the service will need to adapt for the future.

Artefacts on display will range from aircraft to films – and multi-sensory displays will be developed through co-design with museum partners.

The aim of the new exhibition is to deliver storytelling that better reflects the diverse communities of the region, and staff will engage with a wide range of audiences in the development process in order to achieve this.

A purpose-built Collections Hub will also be introduced, enabling the museum to conserve and care for more than 65,000 objects currently being held in storage offsite.

The Collections Hub will provide an opportunity to share these stored collections with visitors for the first time through creative sessions, conservation and research work.

One of the first uses of the hub will be as a venue for volunteering, preparing objects for the new exhibition.

By working closely with partners and young people, the museum will design a new learning centre, dedicated to delivering educational programmes for pupils across the region.

It is hoped the new learning space will inspire curiosity – both in STEM subjects as well as art, history and design – allowing young people to develop new and existing skills.

The visitor experience will be enhanced with a new woodland area and public realm, to encourage outdoor learning and discovery.

The new, greener landscape will provide an opportunity for carbon capture, increasing biodiversity and creating spaces where visitors, staff and volunteers can improve their physical and mental health.

It will also support the museum's commitment to becoming carbon net zero by 2030.

Throughout the programme, museum teams will be working with the RAF as well as environmental experts to invest in sustainable technologies.

Work on the development will begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2027.

To find out more about the redevelopment project and how you can get involved, visit rafmuseum.org/midlands.