During this pandemic we have found our place in the hearts and minds of the multiple communities we serve. When we asked for help, you responded by giving moral and financial support, and shown just how much the people of this city care.

The past year has been a time in which there has been much pain and hardship; we have all been through a journey unlike nothing we have experienced before. Even in this difficult time, we have seen immense generosity where people have come together to care for and support each other.

On a personal level, we saw the people of this city and beyond, support their museum in this time of turbulence and need and we felt humbled. This helped your museum carry on; it helped us to safely open the museum doors to this wonderful city again.

Again, we now find ourselves in a similar position to before where we cannot raise our own income through the wonderful collections and experiences we have to offer our visitors.

And therefore, we are asking you to keeping supporting us. Your donation is a firm step forward in securing the future for Birmingham Museums.

Although the doors to our buildings have been closed, we carried on supporting people. Our Arts for Wellbeing group shares weekly arts activities keeping people connected and creative during lockdown. We continued our work supporting Birmingham's unpaid carers. The number of people caring for friends and family in Birmingham, has increased dramatically due to lockdown, and we know that carers are more likely to be isolated than others. We are still here for them, providing weekly activities and keeping in touch with letters, cards, phone calls and Zoom chats.

The need and impact of this work is undeniable. Our Senior Engagement Officer Rosie Barker, was recognised by Forward Carers with an award. The carers she helped nominated Rosie for the award. They said 'Lockdown would have been a far darker place for me without her' and, 'She's gone beyond her job, she has become a friend now and I cherish that as I live alone'.

As your museum, we still have a role to play in this city, whether our doors are closed or not. Since March 2020, we adapted quickly to the situation and in addition to being here for our communities, we also found fun and creative ways to continue bringing the museums to you.

We now need your help again. There are many ways to help your museum:

-You can donate money

-Buy the gift of membership

-Become a Patron

-Shop online

-Join as Corporate Member

-Leave a gift in your Will

There are so many ways to be part of the future of Birmingham Museums.

Thank you for staying with us.