Plans to power a national museum’s next chapter. 

A new public appeal has been formally launched to help safeguard and transform National Mining Museum Scotland. 

The charity-run site is home to a Recognised Collection of National Significance, Scotland’s first ‘super pit’, and the country’s last surviving colliery built in 1895. 

The initiative aims to preserve the legacy of coal mining - an industry that powered the Industrial Revolution, drove innovation and social change, advanced workers’ rights, and shaped Scotland’s landscape. 

It has been designed to give everyone who has a passion for preserving Scotland’s national heritage an opportunity to ‘be part of’ the museum’s future.

The Be Part of Our Future appeal marks the launch of community centred, nationally significant initiative to preserve the memories of Scotland’s mining heritage. 

It is hoped it will support the museum in caring for and interpreting the nationally significant collections it houses, maintaining and repairing aspects of the A-listed colliery buildings and grounds; developing green energy and community initiatives; and enhancing the venue’s capacity to host community and cultural events across the site.

Former mine worker at the Lady Victoria Colliery and Kilmarnock Mine Rescue Station, from a long family line of coal miners, Sinclair Sutherland, age 75, is supporting the museum in engaging young people with the appeal by telling his stories through a new series of child-led video interviews. 

Now a volunteer and family history researcher at the museum, he said: “I’m very pleased to support National Mining Museum Scotland and would urge everyone to ‘Be Part of Our Future’ in whatever way you can to protect this national treasure. 

“It is an incredible living heritage site which triggers memories and stories. It’s like our generation’s form of social media, allowing us to share the important learnings we had down the pits in a really visual and inspiring way. 

“There are not many heritage sites where you can meet and learn from the people who were involved. It is a real honour to represent the pit community, but we also want to make sure that our legacy lives on in the next generation. Younger people will be the tour guides of the future, and sharing stories as part of conversations will enable us to continue to deliver a unique, authentic, and worthwhile experience.”

After speaking with Marion, Sinclair and fellow mine worker Tom, interviewer Maisey Macrae, age 6, from Mayfield Primary School said: “I love coming to the National Mining Museum! My favourite bit is the pit head or the coal face and dressing up as a miner! My great grandad was a miner, and it’s really special learning about what life was like for him in the mines. I would like to see a brick in with his name in the museum. I liked meeting Sincy, Marion and Tom. They had interesting stories about life in the mines. They told me about how canaries were used in the mines.”

There are several ways people can participate, including the Pithead Circle – a new heritage appeal where donations start at £25 and each supporter will have their name included on a digital recognition wall on the museum’s website. 

This will form a visible record celebrating everyone who is helping protect Scotland’s mining heritage. It also provides an opportunity for supporters to purchase a meaningful Christmas gift that will have a lasting legacy and play a part in the museum’s future.

From The Depths of Coal, Rose the Scotland We Know is a new living archive, which has been set up to allow people to contribute personal recollections. 

This will form a collection of personal coal mining stories that the museum can draw upon in its new projects, plans, and interpretation. 

It will also become an exciting and important new addition to the museum’s archives and collections, showcasing new stories from communities across Scotland that deepen the museum’s understanding of how mining shaped people and places. 

Launching the initiative, Mhairi Cross, CEO of National Mining Museum Scotland said: “This initiative is vital for the museum at this moment. This appeal brings together essential strands: raising financial support we need and gathering the stories and memories that keep Scotland’s mining heritage alive. 

“Together, these strands strengthen our ability to honour the past while building the resilience the museum needs now, and in the years ahead. This is about preserving the experience of mining communities and ensuring that the museum remains strong enough to carry their stories forward.”