Heritage Counts the sector’s annual report investigates how it can support the Big Society as volunteer groups are invited to share their stories online.
How can national heritage organisations help local groups save listed buildings from demolition, keep local heritage attractions open, run successful fundraising campaigns and develop neighbourhood plans?
This year’s Heritage Counts report, produced by the Historic Environment Forum, an umbrella group representing all the main heritage bodies, will investigate what sort of help local groups most need from them. Research starts today and the report will be launched in November.
Evidence for the Heritage Counts report will come partly from volunteer groups telling their stories through social media. The report will also examine whether more use could be made of social media to establish a genuine two-way conversation between national bodies and local groups, the front-line army of volunteers on whom England’s heritage increasingly relies. As 2011 is the European Year of the Volunteer it seems like there is no better time to celebrate this important group of people.
English Heritage, the National Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Royal Palaces, Heritage Alliance, Civic Voice and others have a lot to offer in terms of expertise, experience and grants but how do they know what is really needed on the ground and target their resources accurately?
It is hoped that the Heritage Counts research will reveal whether local groups want strategic advice on how to tackle a building at risk or improve a conservation area, technical advice on the best type of lime mortar, practical advice on looking after a historic place of worship, advice on attracting members to a civic society, guidance on how to run an event successfully or attract local funding for a project.
Heritage Counts will be listening to the people who care most about heritage. It will use their stories and suggestions to build a picture of what difference a group can make to the historic environment and to their local community and what support is needed so they can continue this important work.
On an on-going basis, it will be important to keep the flow of information going in both directions and it is hoped that Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, blogs and discussion forums can be brought into use for heritage just as they are underpinning other elements of the Big Society.
Baroness Andrews, Chair of English Heritage said; “Heritage Counts is an opportunity for the heritage sector to take stock of its achievements as well as looking to the future. The chance to listen to volunteer groups, the lifeblood of communities across England and a crucial support to the heritage sector in general, is very exciting and I look forward to seeing the results later in the year.”
How to contribute
There are many different ways groups can contribute to this year’s Heritage Counts. They can tweet #heritagecounts, visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/English-Heritage/173240995747, to upload images or videos either on this page through Flickr, on Facebook or by email HC2011@english-heritage.org.uk.
The following organisations are represented on the Historic Environment Forum (HEF):
Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers
Black Environment Network
British Property Federation
Church of England
Civic Voice
Council for British Archaeology
Country Land and Business Association
Department for Culture Media and Sport
English Heritage
Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College
Institute for Archaeologists
The Heritage Alliance
Heritage Lottery Fund
Historic Towns Forum
Historic Houses Association
Historic Royal Palaces
Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Joint Committee of National Amenity Societies
National Trust
For further press information, please contact: Ellen Harrison 020 7973 3295 ellen.harrison@english-heritage.org.uk or call the press office on 020 7973 3250
