Concessions Policy

Policies, plans and reports

Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT) prides itself on operating accessible and inclusive museums. We aim to operate in such a way that no visitor faces barriers to entry and we constantly try to identify new barriers and work towards reducing these.

A major barrier that visitors face is the cost of entry to our sites and temporary exhibitions and we have a concessionary ticket system in place that reduces the cost of entry to qualifying visitors.

To be eligible for the concessionary rate, you must receive or hold one or more of the following:

  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Job Seekers Allowance
  • Employment and Support Allowance
  • Income Support
  • Council Tax Support
  • Universal Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Pension Credit
  • Attendance Allowance

Or be one of the following:

Please note that BMT reserves the right to ask for evidence of status or receipt of benefits before issuing any such concessionary tickets.

Other than the Max Card holders, the above concessionary rates apply only to the named individual supplied on the evidence submitted and not to the entire party. Max Card holders are eligible for free admission for up to two adults and two children.

Multiple members of a party wishing to claim the concessionary rate of entry will need to evidence their receipt of one or more of the above criteria. 

From time-to-time special events, partner events and some experiences may not have a concession ticket available.
 

Personal Assistants

BMT welcomes personal assistants with those visitors that require them. Currently, we will permit one personal assistant free entry to the museum to accompany those who are in possession of one of the following:  

  • Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 or DLA/Personal Independent Payments (PIP) for those aged 16-64, either in the form of a letter stating that the benefit has been awarded, or the actual Allowance book.
  • Incapacity Benefit books, or a letter notifying the recipient that they have been awarded Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Disability Students’ Allowance (DSA), or DID card (UK Disabled ID card).
  • A valid Blue Badge
  • In the case of visual impairment, a registration card known as the BD8 or a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI).
  • Nimbus Access Card with the companion symbol.
  • A signed letter from a medical professional (like a GP or Consultant) which states that the named passholder requires a Carer. The letter must be dated within the last 2 years, must be printed on letter headed paper and be stamped by the establishment (e.g., Doctor’s Surgery, Hospital).  If a passholder requires 2 Carers, the letter must reflect that requirement.

For those persons that may require multiple personal assistants, prior arrangements must be made with the Museum Manager or equivalent and written evidence of this requirement may be asked for before entry is permitted.

Due to our adherence to health and safety guidelines, we cannot allow anyone under the age of 16 years to be a personal assistant to another person.

Please note, free personal assistants tickets are not valid for personal assistants visiting independently. 

Memberships

Memberships will be issued in line with the standard ticket policy above. Memberships are available at the standard or concessionary rates as detailed above and personal assistants can also be included on such. Evidence of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments will be requested before personal assistants are included on a membership. Multiple personal assistants can be catered for but only with prior arrangement with a Museum Manager or equivalent and upon production of suitable evidence of their requirement.

Memberships for concessions are subject to the same restrictions as standard memberships in that photo ID may be requested as proof of ownership on every visit.

Group Entry

We encourage group visits be they a school, social group, special-interest group, large family or organisation. The classification of a group is ten or more people visiting at the same time.

As noted above, BMT will allow free personal assistant places to disabled visitors but as personal assistants rather than visitors, they will not contribute towards the minimum number of ten people that are required to form a group.