Capacity Building for Heritage

Capacity Building for Heritage

Led by Archaeology Scotland

This project was included in the programme because we understood that local groups involved in history and heritage were hit very hard by the Covid 19 pandemic. In 2021, the Leven Programme partnership developed a Heritage Framework for the River Leven catchment which included engagement with many stakeholders including local history enthusiasts. The inclusion of this project, and the other heritage projects, in the River Park Programme development phase was informed by what we learned during that phase.

Capacity Building in Heritage Groups will take three approaches:

  1. Training workshops: These will be available to existing local groups in skills which will help strengthen their organisational sustainability. These are based on skills that groups told us they wanted or needed support with, including membership recruitment, fundraising and income generation, programme development, curating an exhibition, event planning, developing promotional materials, and then a few taster workshops in archaeology and conservation field skills.
  2. Skills development programme: This will include a 10-week heritage and archaeology course, a 3-week field school covering archaeological skills (like excavation and surveying) and traditional skills (like stonemasonry and lime mortaring), followed by a 1-week paid work placement with an archaeology-based employer.
  3. Youth forum: Young people who participate in the heritage projects will receive targeted support in developing their own heritage projects and securing funding to deliver them.

Leaving a legacy

The skills development programme and youth forum aim to attract broader audiences into the world of heritage work while providing practical and transferable skills. The training for existing groups aims to ensure they’re ready to take advantage of these new audiences to increase membership and participation, ensuring their deep knowledge and passion for Levenmouth’s history is sustained and leaves a legacy.

Click here to access the design report, produced by Archaeology Scotland, which this project was informed by.