START OF A SEASON
There was an excellent turnout for a staff briefing a couple of weeks before we re-opened at Easter. This was partly intended to give confidence to those volunteers who hesitate to chat to visitors. We were reminded that we could take pride in how much we had achieved so far with limited resources and this was coupled to a look into our established plans for the future.
We moved onto how to talk to visitors and each other, including the undesirability of shouting which quickly chills a good atmosphere for visitors, even if it’s banter. The need to engage the interest of potential volunteers was stressed. Those present were invited to make suggestions for better working arrangements and this proved to be an excellent, very constructive part of the session.
Rosemary Clarke, of Bromsgrove District Council’s tourism and marketing section, very kindly gave us the benefit of her long experience in those areas to assist us in our customer care, and we thank her for giving us her valuable time. Finally we discussed the concepts and implications of the Disability Discrimination Act. This included an excellent choice of training video, selected by Dave Hales, to remind us why the DDA is necessary.
To relax afterwards, Bob Deloyde had kindly brought an excellent pair of films from BaMMOT’s early days, including faces once familiarly seen, which underlined the earlier remarks about how much had been achieved.
I felt those who had benefited from the briefing had a more confident air about them on our first big days at Easter and, boy, did they need it. Attendances smashed all recent Easter results by a wide margin. Birmingham buses were highlighted in recognition of the centenary of the transport department commencing business. Sunday demand warned us that Monday could be lively. Thankfully we had prepared something of a show, with no less than nine buses in operation on the Monday. Needless to say the car parking areas came under massive pressure - thanks to all the volunteers who pressed their cars into a small area to give us the vital space and those who dealt with the arrivals so efficiently. Special mention is also due to the cafeteria volunteers who are always in the thick of it when business is brisk.
We have had fine Easters before, so we need to isolate why demand was so lively - and repeat it, preferably when we have use of Britannic’s car park!
Malcolm Keeley
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
