Inspiring Everyone: Midlands Development Programme
Transforming the RAF Museum Midlands for future generations
Explore below
The RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme is being made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to progress our plans for this project.
We’re excited to announce the next stage of the RAF Museum’s journey.
As part of our Strategy 2030, we are launching a 25-year Development Programme at our Midlands site.
This major investment will:
- Transform our spaces through immersive RAF storytelling
- Create opportunities for reflection and debate
- Reach wider audiences by connecting shared histories and interests
- Strengthen partnerships and invest responsibly
- Support learning, wellbeing, and community prosperity
Rooted in the site’s unique heritage, the programme will preserve and share the RAF story — past, present, and future — for generations to come.
Download the RAF Midlands Development Programme brochure here (2MB)
Why this matters
- Less than 1% of our collection is publicly accessible today.
- Our current visitor capacity limits growth — we project 550,000+ visitors by 2030.
- We must broaden access and inclusion across Midlands communities.
Our Projects
New: “The RAF: 1980 to Today”
Convert Hangar 1 into an immersive, multi-sensory display sharing the RAF’s story over the past 40+ years — from missions to innovation.
Learn more
Learning Centre
A bespoke new building to host lifelong learning programmes, STEM, arts, and community outreach — meeting demand we currently can't serve.
Discover the learning centre
Collections Hub
Bring thousands of artefacts out of storage — for public display, research, and discovery for the first time.
Explore the collections hub
Outdoor Spaces
Transform our grounds into green, accessible, contemplative spaces with planting, pathways and habitats — for learning and wellbeing.
See outdoor improvements
Bursaries
Support research into RAF history with new bursaries focused on the Midlands region and its connections to aviation heritage.
Learn more
Community
Delivering workshops, events and partnerships across the Midlands to engage local communities in aviation heritage, digital skills and STEM learning.
Learn moreEngagement Programme
We are working with Midlands communities to co-create a programme that connects people onsite, offsite, and online.
Through new galleries, landscapes, and story sharing, we aim to build a welcoming space that reflects diverse needs and experiences.
These changes will make the Museum a resilient community resource — inclusive, engaging, and inspiring wider audiences with the RAF story, past and present.
Your support makes this possible
- Become a valuable resource for our Midlands community
- Work with partners to involve people in their local and RAF heritage, improving their wellbeing and developing their skills
- Broaden and increase our visitor engagement, welcoming over 550,000 visitors by 2030-31, an almost 40% increase on current visitor figures
- Work with our audiences to share RAF stories that are relevant to their lives and lived experiences inspiring them to fulfil their own potential
- Ensure our collection will be better understood, cared for and opened up for our visitors
- Be a more resilient organisation and able to support our community in the future
- Work towards becoming a Carbon Net Zero organisation
Join Us
We cannot achieve this transformation alone. The Inspiring Everyone: RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme invites you to help shape an inclusive, future-focused Museum.
We’re seeking:
- Partners to support and amplify our work
- Ambassadors to advocate for our mission
- Volunteers to get hands-on with activities
Together, we can unlock the potential of our Midlands communities and beyond.
Have questions? Want to partner or donate? We’d love to hear from you.
Contact: development@rafmuseum.org