It is hoped a new membership scheme with an old Cornish name will help put Helston Museum firmly on the national and international map.

The museum will launch its supporters group Para HenHellys, loosely translated as Old Helston Team, next week (June 10).

As well as offering a chance for local people to support the venue, the initiative will also give Helston folk living nationally and globally a special opportunity to keep in touch with their roots.

Members will receive a bi-annual newsletter keeping them up-to-date with exhibitions, events, developments and acquisitions, in addition to invitations to private views, sociable fundraising events and behind the scenes tours.

Other benefits to the scheme, that will run alongside the long established Friends of the Museum, include generous discounts on the autumn and winter lecture programme and ten per cent discount on most items in the museum shop.

The group will launch with a musical evening on Tuesday featuring the Constantine based choir Friends in Harmony who will perform music from medieval times to the present day.

Judith Haycock, chair of South Kerrier Heritage Trust, which runs the museum, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for people to be part of a friendly, vibrant, award-winning museum community”.

It costs only £25 a year to become a member and money raised from the initiative will go directly towards museum running costs. Membership can be paid via Gift Aid to ensure maximum benefit.

Application forms can be picked up from the museum or downloaded from the website www.helstonmuseum.co.uk.