The British Association of Friends of Museums, BAFM, is here to help, encourage, inform and advise friends, supporters and volunteers of museums, galleries, and other cultural organisations in all sections of our UK heritage.

We support local Friends’ groups, keep them informed about items of benefit, and provide a network to help share problems and solutions.

Read more about BAFM

BAFM events

Recruiting and Retaining Members – Online Event 14th June 2022

The last two years have seen groups faced with enormous difficulties as they have striven to continue to operate in support of museums or ...Read more ...

BAFM National Conference 2022

Resilience:  Growing and Maintaining Friendships in Changing Times There will be a host of prodigious Speakers to address our theme and a great opportunity ...Read more ...

Becoming a CIO online event 16 March 2022

BAFM is pleased to announce an In Conversation event with Mrs Jackie Gladden BSC MBA on Wednesday 16th March at 7pm via Zoom. Jackie ...Read more ...

BAFM news

Statement on Ukraine

Mar 24, 2022

The British Association of Friends of Museums supports the statement by the International Council of Museums and that of the World Federation of Friends ...Read more ...

BAFM Impact Award winner

Mar 24, 2022

We are delighted to announce that the Friends of Upminster Windmill are the winners of our inaugural Impact Award. The Friends successfully introduced digital ...Read more ...

BAFM RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM REBUILDING HERITAGE

Sep 06, 2021

We were delighted to receive support from the Rebuilding Heritage programme which is providing free consultancy to heritage organisations to enable them to become ...Read more ...

Member Benefits

  • Join the family of like minded organisations
  • Advice and guidance
  • Access to competitive group Insurance scheme
  • BAFM Journal 3 times a year
  • National and Regional Conferences
  • Chair’s e-newsletter every 2 months
  • Copy of ‘Handbook for Friends’
  • Copy of ‘Charter & Handbook for Heritage Volunteer Managers & Administrators
  • Networking opportunities

Testimonials

As a first time attendee to a BAFM Regional Day I found this invaluable. I thought it was really interesting hearing what other Friends’ groups are doing. I will certainly attend future ones.

Bill Rhodes
Chairman of Friends of Gressenhall, Dereham, Norfolk

As a new Friends' group, BAFM has proved an excellent source of information and support for us, and a good way of meeting up and exchanging ideas with others.

Angela Conyers,
Chair, Friends of Folkestone Museum, Kent

From insurance to legal guidance, from ethics to fund raising and as a supreme networking tool, BAFM is there to assist and advise. In essence, BAFM is the friend of all Friends and support groups.

Ian Bean,
Director of Projects of the Friends of Beamish