Supporting Our Heritage
Run by Maidstone Museums' Foundation (MMF), Registered Charity No. 802547
President – VICTORIA WALLACE DL
Maidstone Museums’ Friends are part of a charitable, independent organisation set up to lead people’s appreciation of and support for these Museums – their buildings, collections, displays and interpretation, educational activity, research and much more. This is achieved through co-ordinated voluntary effort.
August 2025
A sunny evening voyage along the River Medway is a lovely way to see Maidstone and nearby attractions from a different angle.
More than 40 members of Maidstone Museums’ Foundation and guests enjoyed a relaxing cruise on Thursday August 14, 2025, savouring the scenery, buffet and drinks from the bar. Although recent
July 2025
MMF’s design awards for young people sparked a wealth of exciting product ideas that were celebrated at an awards evening in the Friends’ Shop.
The third MMF Heritage Design Challenge, promoted to schools across Kent, encourages young people to visit Maidstone Museum and create a product idea from something they have seen there. Winning products are sold in the Museum shop.
July 2025
Prisoners serving a life sentence are easier to work with than those facing shorter terms, according to John Mills, a prison officer for 15 years. His experience of working in prisons in Maidstone and Holloway showed that “lifers were the easiest group I worked with. Once a lifer is told to serve a life sentence, they make a life for themselves in prison.
... continue readingProvide volunteer effort to support the work and operation of the museums
Co-ordinate and operate the Friends’ scheme
Promote the three Museums to the residents of Maidstone and beyond, helping to preserve our local heritage
Secure finance to help with the purchase of artefacts, restoration of works, research, improved display & interpretation, improvement/adaption of the buildings - through grant-giving trusts, local fund-raising activities, donations, and the Friends’ scheme.
Maidstone is home to some of the finest, and eclectic museums in the South East. Their artefacts and presentations cover the story of this area, the collections of Maidstone people who have travelled the world (artefacts from the Japanese Edo period, the South Pacific and North America), the West Kent regimental museum, and one of Europe’s best collections of carriages.
Become a Friend of Maidstone Museums and enjoy these
Member Benefits
Join the family of people who support Maidstone’s Museums
Obtain a 25% discount for Museum special exhibition entry
Be invited to take part in activities throughout the year
Gain an insight into what goes on behind the scenes
Be able to be involved in volunteering opportunities
Receive discounted entry on advertised Museum events
Receive a bi-monthly MMF e-newsletter, keeping you informed of news and activities
Joining MMF has helped me feel a more personal contact with the Museums. Its events pre-covid- were excellent and I am looking ahead to some bright new ideas from them as soon as we are able to meet properly again. Have been impressed with contact via the Friends' newsletter, enjoyed seeing the old Maidstone photograph exhibition at the MMF pop up shop, and seeing children interacting with the dinosaur there. Well done everyone.
Having recently joined the Maidstone Museums' Foundation. we have had the opportunity to experience the Museums after itheir reopening. Taking the grandchildren to see the dinosaurs has been a monthly treat for them and the staff are excellent and very knowledgeable. Thank you Maidstone Museums' Foundation.
MMF membership has given me the opportunity to support this valuable and essential asset that Maidstone has. It also gives us the chance to further investigate and enjoy the Museums’ superb and varied exhibits.
We are accepted by the Fundraising Regulator, the independent regulator for charitable fundraising in England, Wales & Northern Ireland. It says, to you, that we help promote best practice, defend the sector and demonstrate compliance with the law.
Maidstone Museums’ Friends are pleased to be members of the Association of Independent Museums.
AIM represents, connects and strengthens the UK’s independent museums and heritage organisations.
Maidstone Museums’ Friends are part of a wider network across the the UK of those local groups who support culture and Heritage. We are members of the British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM)
For all questions please contact:
Mr Ivan White, MMF Membership Secretary info@maidstonemuseumsfriends.org.uk
MMF is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for data protection.
ICO is an independent body set up to uphold information rights.
Personal Details
MMF hold your contact details only for the purpose of keeping you informed about matters relating to Maidstone’s Museums and the Foundation. These details will be kept for a maximum of 15 calendar months after your last active paid membership expires. We will never share your personal or financial details with any other organisation.
We keep your information safely and securely, and only Trustees of MMF are given access to your data
Should you wish to request access, corrections or removal of your personal information please contact us by contacting:
Ivan White, MMF Membership Secretary
Photographs on the Website
We always ensure that personal data contained in photographs on this site are protected. We do this by:
Copyright Maidstone Museums Foundation 2024
@maidstonemuseumsfriends