MANY stories end “happily ever after”.

But one Oxford Museum is planning to start that way, after winning a series of awards before it has even been built.

The Story Museum, based at Rochester House in Pembroke Street, is set to become one of the city’s leading attractions by 2014.

It is hoped the £11m design could become a “new world centre of children’s literature and storytelling in the heart of Oxford”.

And this month the museum scooped a £6,000 grant from The Happy Museum Project.

It was one of only six winners around the country that included established attractions such as the London Transport Museum and Manchester Museum.

The money will help the fledgling museum incorporate the idea of “well-being” into its development.

Story Museum co-director Tish Francis said: “Great stories bring us closer and teach us about ourselves and the world.

“Our work in primary schools has demonstrated how learning with stories can and does transform lives. We’re delighted to receive this award, which recognises our desire to engage and involve visitors and open windows into other worlds right from the start.”

The museum has already been busy around the county, from creating a fairytale shop window for passers-by to enjoy, to helping create an annual memorial day for young literary agent Maggie Evans.

Ms Francis said: “Making people – especially children – feel good about themselves has been at the heart of The Story Museum’s work since its inception in 2003. This award will be used to develop its ideas further by test driving them with programmers, architects, artists and potential visitors at every stage of the design process.”

The museum also scooped £10,500 from the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts.

It will support a programme of activities for 350 children at Cheney School and Oxford Academy, letting them help design the museum’s future.

It is hoped the completion of the building will take place in 2014 – the year Oxford is also bidding to become Unesco World Book Capital.

The Happy Museum Project funds museums “committed to a well-being and sustainable society.

It has an annual fund of £60,000 which comes from a charitable foundation itself funded by trustees’ donations.

For more information about the Story Museum, visit storymuseum.org.uk