The new Heritage Counts survey from English Heritage (EH), concentrating on the effects of heritage on wellbeing – which makes it official that ‘heritage makes you happy’ – has been welcomed by the IHBC, with the institute also pointing out that government investment needs to recognise the huge value added by heritage through tax relief and, in line with its statutory duties, credible conservation services in local government!
David McDonald, IHBC Education Secretary said ‘The publication of this year’s Heritage Counts with it’s theme of the value of heritage is particularly timely. In the lead-up to a General Election in 2015, it demonstrates to all the political parties that the historic and built environment is an essential element of all our lives, and not simply a specialised interest. At the same time it draws attention to the significant decline in the number of local authority conservation officers since 2006’.
IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘We can now say, as per this report, that visiting historic towns and buildings has the greatest impact of all heritage activities, and that the monetary value of wellbeing from heritage is some £1,646 per person per year!’
‘Surely now the sector has used the bureaucratic languages of the Treasury and of government sufficiently to deserve a fair recognition of the benefits we deliver. These cross-cutting heritage bonuses may be a tad more complex than the crude, continually revised data of GDP and the like, but across the UK we continue demonstrate with almost neurotic regularity and consistency the value added when we care for our heritage.’
‘Surely government must respond appropriately. At the very least it could acknowledge that we make a real difference to people’s lives and futures by offering tax relief to incentivize the care of our places, and credible investment in the public conservation services that are, as our recent guidance on these duties demonstrates, already a legal right of citizens!’
English Heritage (EH) writes:
Heritage Counts 2014 reveals that visiting different types of historic places has a positive impact on life satisfaction, or general wellbeing. A study commissioned for this year’s report measured the value of visiting eight different types of heritage over the past year, from historic towns, to industrial sites, places of worship and archaeological sites. The good effect on wellbeing was found to be the same or more than doing other activities, including sports, and visiting historic towns and buildings has the greatest impact. The monetary value of this positive impact on general wellbeing is calculated as £1,646 per person per year for the average heritage goer.
Sir Laurie Magnus, the Chairman of English Heritage said: ‘England’s historic environment is a great force for good. It enhances the quality of our surroundings, provides employment, helps underpin our national identity and generally lifts our spirits. This year’s Heritage Counts provides critical evidence to show the contribution that the historic environment makes towards turning the government’s objective of improving the nation’s wellbeing into reality.’
John Sell, Chair of the Historic Environment Forum said: ‘It is no surprise that heritage significantly contributes to tourism but it is fascinating to be able to demonstrate that it also improves our well-being. Historic places belong to all of us and when people from all walks of life volunteer to look after them or campaign to protect them, it is clear that our heritage plays a unique role in our national life.’
Countless individuals also benefit mentally and physically through active participation in heritage projects. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) surveyed the impact of volunteering in its funded projects over three years: volunteers reported levels of mental health and wellbeing far higher than the general population, with one in three describing a notable increase in self-esteem. The research also found volunteers gained new and improved skills through projects and used them beyond the workplace to engage with their community: 75% of volunteers reported a strong sense of belonging to their immediate neighbourhood.
IHBC’s new ‘Guidance Note’ on local authority duties to provide conservation services, and the benefits that arise from the services.
