CBA to Receive Huge Financial Boost for New Training Initiative
Community Archaeology Bursary Project Given Huge Financial Boost
The Council for British Archaeology has been awarded a grant of £604,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards a new project providing bursary funded training for community archaeologists across the UK.
The project will run for three years and will deliver 27 (9 per year) funded places across England, Scotland and Wales. These are aimed at providing on-the-job training bursaries for individuals to increase their skills and knowledge of working with communities and volunteers.
The bursary places will be aimed at individuals from any background who have gathered and can demonstrate sound archaeological knowledge and experience and who wish to go on to pursue a career in archaeology specifically in the area of developing communities and volunteers.
The project will be co-ordinated and managed by the CBA with the bursary places themselves being hosted annually by organisations with an established track-record in delivering support to communities with an interest in archaeology. This collaborative approach will help share the good practice that exists among organisations already working with communities and will go on to build a network of individuals who have the skills and knowledge to work effectively to support communities, extending interest and engagement with archaeology. This will benefit not only the UK’s archaeology, but also the communities who so passionately care about and for it.
CBA Director, Dr Mike Heyworth, said:
In challenging times this funding will provide a key opportunity for the archaeological profession to develop skills and experience of working with voluntary sector community archaeology groups. The outcome in the coming years will be increased public benefit and an enhanced skills base for the archaeological profession across the UK. The Council for British Archaeology is delighted to have the opportunity to lead this initiative, with the welcome and much appreciated support of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The application was developed with support from English Heritage and we look forward to working in partnership with a variety of partners across the UK, including English Heritage and Cadw.
The first round of training places will be offered from early in 2011. Details of the bursaries offered, their locations, and how to apply will be advertised on the CBA website in due course. Please keep an eye on our website at http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ for more information.
Notes for Editors:
The Council for British Archaeology
The CBA is an educational charity working throughout the UK to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations.
Skills for the Future
The Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future programme is supporting heritage organisations across the UK to create new training places. Grants range from £100,000 to £1million for a number of traineeships with an emphasis on high-quality work-based training. The programme will help equip organisations to engage with the widest possible range of people and inspire them to get involved with heritage.
Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK. Website: http://www.hlf.org.uk/. For more information please contact Katie Owen, HLF press office, on tel: 020 7591 6036/07973 613820.
