Sikh Community Centre & Youth Club (SCCYC) received Northamptonshire Heritage Forums’ Best Special Project Award 2021 for the newly developed Sikh Museum Northampton (SMN).

SCCYC Board members Charanjit Kaur Grewal (Trustee & Elders Services Board) and Rupinder Singh Thind (Board Digital Director) attended the awards ceremony at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery on September 15th.

The Sikh Museum Northampton space has been developed to share diverse Sikh and Punjabi heritage exhibitions, and oral histories of the Sikhs of Northampton. The project explores the values that helped the community through migration challenges and settlement, and values that helped them to flourish as a community and provide wider benefit to the town’s communities.

The Museum’s exhibitions explore core values such as ‘helping those in need’ and ‘equality and inclusion’ that have a positive impact to people’s lives. An educational area has also recently been developed, containing a library and digital learning resources.

Harjinder Kooner, Chair of SCCYC said: “We are honoured and humbled with yet another recognition award, what a wonderful way to celebrate SCCYC’s 25th Anniversary! The SCCYC management team would like to thank everyone involved in the development of the Sikh Museum of Northampton. It is a great achievement considering the scale of building work and project work involved in the midst of a pandemic. The Museum is a valuable educational and enjoyable resource, a legacy for the whole town and for future generations. We anticipate and official opening in the new year, followed by tours, workshops, and heritage events thereafter, with an expected annual footfall of approximately 10,000.”

Martin Lawrence MBE, Chair of Northamptonshire Heritage Forum visited the Sikh Museum to speak to the SCCYC management, and learn about Sikh, Punjabi and local heritage.

If you would like to help maintain the Museum or get involved in the development of future heritage projects, contact Pindy Kaur, Development Manager, e: pindy@watersideconnect.com m: 07770 088568.