We keep you up to date with what is happening in British archaeology, whether you are looking to participate in a dig or join a local archaeological society.
There are also a number of ways you can get involved by volunteering with the CBA, from helping protect historic buildings, to supporting your local CBA Group or Young Archaeologists’ Club. Find out more below.
Help protect historic buildings
Do you care about historic buildings and want to help protect them? If so, why not apply to be a Casework Input volunteer.
Each year the CBA receives more than 5500 listed building consent applications for England and Wales. Our role in the planning system is to flag up any issues that proposals might have on the archaeological interest of a place. We provide specialist advice to ensure the UK's historic environment is safeguarded.
We run a database that we record all these applications on with the help of volunteers all over the country. Our volunteers receive training on who we are, what we do, and how we assess LBC applications, as well as how to use the database of course. They then make a commitment to receive and upload a regular amount of applications onto the database each week.
If you would like to volunteer to assist with our casework database, please fill out the Casework Volunteer Application Form, and contact [email protected].
Inspire young people
Our Young Archaeologists' Club (YAC) has a network of branches around the country, run by teams of volunteers. We are always looking for new adults to get involved as branch leaders, assistants, and helpers.
YAC branches offer their members a variety of different activities that you might find yourself organising and running. For example, you could help young people:
- Discover how archaeologists excavate
- Try their hand at historic crafts
- Visit archaeological or heritage sites
- Taste foods from different time periods
- Take part in a real live dig!
Help is also needed to run the branch and look after its membership administration.
Volunteering with the YAC will also provide lots of opportunities to help enhance your CV through training opportunities offered by the CBA and through the experience you will gain by running a club. It's also a lot of fun and our YAC groups often get special access to exciting archaeological digs and behind the scenes tours of museums!
You can find out where your nearest club is by using the interactive map over on the YAC website. To learn more about volunteering with a branch visit the FAQs section of the site or get in touch with the YAC team.
After speaking to one of the YAC team, click here to complete the YAC Volunteer Application Form.
Get involved with your local CBA group
The voluntary CBA Groups around Britain provide information, publish their own research, and organise events, to raise the profile of archaeology.
They run their own membership schemes and welcome new volunteer committee members, both archaeology professionals and enthusiasts. Joining your local group gives you the opportunity to learn more about the area’s archaeology and meet like-minded people who share your passion for the past.
Click here to look up your nearest group and get in touch with them about volunteering opportunities.
Take part in a dig
Many excavations and archaeological projects welcome help from volunteers, although some take a fee for this opportunity.
You can find out about fieldwork opportunities around the UK through the CBA Events calendar.
Information about archaeology projects can also be found on the sites below.
- British Archaeological Jobs and Resources: Mostly advertises employment opportunities but sometimes offers fieldwork placements.
- Current Archaeology: Advertises opportunities across the UK and Ireland.
- Dig Ventures: An independent project that sets up crowdfunded digs for volunteers around the world.
- CBA Groups: CBA Groups offer a range of activities including talks, conferences and site visits and some also undertake fieldwork. They are a great source of information and advice and will usually have information about any excavations going on in their area.
Festival of Archaeology Advisory Group
We are looking for individuals to join our new Festival of Archaeology Advisory Group. If you are interested in helping us develop and improve the Festival then this could be a role for you.
The purpose of the Advisory Group is to bring together representatives who, based on their professional and personal experience, will enhance the output and help the future development of Festival of Archaeology engagement for the CBA, established and new organisers, and ultimately participants.
The Advisory Group will provide a sounding board on a range of strategic issues relating to the Festival such as theme, providing feedback on support received by organisers from the CBA, organiser materials, training, and the evaluation process. The advisory group could help address issues such as regional variations and improving event organisers skills sets as well as signposting key individuals, groups or venues that the Festival team can engage with.
The Terms of Reference give more information about the purpose and remit of the Advisory Group and the Role Description gives more detail on the skills we're looking for and the commitment required. Applications close on 31st August 2025. If you have any questions about this role please email Debbie Frearson, Festival Coordinator at [email protected].