Museums And Archives

'Flying Stress': Mental Health and Well-being within RAF Fighter Command during the Second World War

Our 'Flying Stress' project will explore the heritage of mental health and well-being within Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command during the Second World War, ensuring that it is remembered, valued and better understood. This will be achieved through recruiting 15-18 project volunteers to research mental health and well-being within RAF Fighter Command, utilising archives and museum collections. Project volunteers will co-curate a temporary exhibition from their research, which will engage over 7,000 museum visitors. The exhibition will be enhanced through a supporting programme of well-being workshops, concerts and walks, 'Spitfire Summer' family activities, and new resources for visitors with dementia. The project will make important connections between visitors and the site specific history of Bentley Priory and its collection. It will target engagement of 3 groups - families, people with dementia, and serving and former RAF personnel, making important connections between historic and contemporary mental health and well-being.