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| Subsistance allowance |
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Posted by: Blacktusk - 26th January 2008, 01:35 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (12)
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How many archaeological companies pay subsistance for away jobs when in self-catering accomodation? The company i work for refuses to pay anything which i think is highly unfair.
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| Tip off the Self-Assessment |
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Posted by: Unitof1 - 25th January 2008, 03:13 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (4)
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For the first year of self employment I never got out of the Short Form tax return which you fill in if you do not go over a threshold of earnings. Between 2005-2008 the limit was payments up to £15000, for 2007-2008 it apparently is going to be £30000. For those who do not know the Short form is the normal tax form but only three figures are required to be filled in -basically total of money you were paid, total of your expenses and a final figure of profit generated from taking expenses from payments. The main difference to the full form is that the expenses are not categorised. When I was on the Short Form I got into a habit of stuffing my receipts and invoice copies into A4 plastic pocket paper holder folder book monthly and then filling out a monthly-categorised account. Then one day I cracked the threshold and when I came to fill in the long form I found that my categories were slightly different from those required by the taxman and then had to redo my itemisation (I had car, tools, banks and other). Anyway here is my sados tip. Find out what the taxpersons categories are for the year ahead, which you can do by downloading the full assessment form off the web, itemise your receipts into those categories and then if you find that you have any categories that you donât understand you can have a lovely chat with your taxperson about whether trips to museums in Italy are legitimate expenses. I would suggest using these categories even if you donât think that you will reach the threshold- to get into the habit but also because it will help anyone to understand the why, what and how you are trying to make any money.
One of the things you soon learn is regret on paying tax! I donât mean that you should seek avoidance but that any tax that you pay could potentially have been an investment in yourself and if you look at the legitimate categories I think that it helps concentrate the mind on what you can do. What can you do in âInterest and finance paymentsâ, âAdvertising, promotion and entertainmentâ - should you have bought a metal detector, dynamite, got a CSCS cardâ¦.
Example of form which you can cut and paste into excel (might not last)
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/Selfemplo...ssment.htm
or pdf form at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sa103.pdf
As for the yearly tax cycle I blame Stonehenge but now I know what is meant by ritual.
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| 19th century ferrous metallurgy |
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Posted by: Paul Belford - 22nd January 2008, 11:09 AM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (9)
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The Historical Metallurgy Society is holding a spring day meeting on 19th-Century Ferrous Metallurgy. This intended to be a working meeting for professionals engaged in the subject. The focus will be on the discussion of recent archaeological projects and the issues associated with these kind of sites, especially large-scale sites. The meeting is being organised by Anna Badcock and will be held in Sheffield on 18th April 2008. The programme is as follows:
Rod Mackenzie (ARCUS): Time for a new paradigm - excavating large-scale metalworking sites
Paul Belford (Ironbridge): Er... I wonder what all these brick flues are for? (and other questions)
Dan Atkinson (Headland): The Govan Ironworks at Dixon's Blazes, Glasgow
Martin Stockwell (YAT) (to be confirmed): Excavations at Saville St, Sheffield
Effie Photos-Jones: Excavations at Monklands, Lanarkshire
Helen Gomersall (WYAAS): Whose idea was this, exactly? - Development Control Decisions and Iron-working sites
Chris Ball (Hawley Collection): Beware of the pitfall! Some issues with historical & documentary sources
David Cranstone (Cranstone Consultants): Govan, Maesteg, Swalwell - different sites, same problems?
The cost will be £18 which will include refreshments and buffet lunch.
Further details and an attendance form can be found on the HMS website.
http://www.hist-met.org/sheffield2008.html
Look forward to seeing you there.
Edited to add David Cranstone's paper.
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| Common Misconceptions |
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Posted by: garybrun - 19th January 2008, 10:51 AM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (16)
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Could you give me a list about the common misconceptions that you believe metal detectorists have about archaeologists. I'm serious about it so its not a joke.
I would like to make a fact sheet and FAQ that covers most things.
We could also make one regarding detecting. There isn't anything out there and I think this would be a good place to start to get the ball rolling.
David could you help me get the list and "separate the wheat from the chaff"?
Website for responsible Metal Detecting
http://www.ukdfd.co.uk
Recording Our Heritage For Future Generations.
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| Bajr bugs |
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Posted by: drpeterwardle - 17th January 2008, 01:54 AM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (2)
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David
I am not sure why but two posts have not reached the website today.
Something we should investigate.
Peter
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| Volunteers |
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Posted by: Paul Belford - 16th January 2008, 01:55 PM - Forum: The Site Hut
- Replies (45)
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Peter has made some points about volunteers in the rather heated thread about metal detecting. I think these have a wider relevance than to the debate on detecting (which I do not intend to involve myself in), and would be interested in peoples' views. Apologies for the lengthy post.
Peter wrote:
Quote:quote:OK here is why I will not use "volunteers" even if they are free.
1. H&S issues but mainly in terms of training, accountability and control.
2. PPE
3. Quality control - it is easy to maintain quality control with somebody who is hired.
4. Confidentiallity
5. Data consistency
6. Hours of work
7. Understanding of ecological requirements
8. Supervision
9. Administration.
10. Control.
11. Management and supervision time.
This is just the reality of archaeology in the C21 where the bulk of the work is done as part of multi-million pound projects.
I have used volunteers (including detectorists) on a number of projects. Not all projects are suitable, but many of the issues that Peter raises can easily be overcome. One recent project was for a conservation trust, and involved an overall budget of millions of pounds. Here is how we dealt with the following issues:
1. H&S issues but mainly in terms of training, accountability and control. The site in question was heavily contaminated. Prior to starting work all staff (both paid and volunteer) had the same H&S induction and were given copies of risk assessments. Accountability and control was through the normal line management structures.
2. PPE Part of the mitigation of the contamination risk was PPE, including all-over suits and breathing masks. This was provided by us to all staff and was costed in from the outset.
3. Quality control - it is easy to maintain quality control with somebody who is hired. It is also easy to maintain quality control with volunteers. The key is in training, and involving them closely in the aims, objectives and hoped-for outcomes of the project. Quality in this project was achieved through close supervision - time for this was built into the project costings.
4. Confidentiallity. (sic) No problem here (see point 8 below).
5. Data consistency. This comes under 'quality control', see point 3 above.
6. Hours of work. Individual volunteers obviously work different hours, but core hours were required. Each volunteer's days and hours were mutually agreed beforehand - and because they felt involved and engaged and part of the project there was no major problem (see also point 8 below).
7. Understanding of ecological requirements. This issue didn't arise in our specific project, but again would be dealt with as part of the initial induction training (see point 8 below).
8. Supervision. All volunteers had to be committed to the project; they were chosen and selected by the conservation trust rather than ourselves. We had a pre-project meeting where we outlined the aims and objectives and intended outcomes of the project. We showed them the risk assessments and explained the H&S issues, then gave them a full induction. They had copies of the project design and risk assessment. The volunteers were integrated into the management structure of the paid project team. Finally, they all recieved, and signed, volunteer agreements which specified the hours they worked, the duties they would undertake, their rights and responsibilities, and our rights and responsibilities.
9. Administration. Built in as part of the project costs (see also point 11 below).
10. Control. See point 8 above.
11. Management and supervision time. This was built into the project costs.
Now I will be the first to admit that this was an exceptional project, undertaken for a conservation trust who actually wanted volunteers involved. I would also point out that there were one or two minor teething troubles as we went on. However I see no reason why volunteers cannot be brought on board to many projects, both public- and private-sector.
The value that volunteers bring is well worth the additional costs that they incur - and no, volunteers are not free, they do cost money in terms of all of the things that Peter has mentioned (H&S, PPE, training, supervision, administration etc.). In this case (recording a factory) we gained the experience of a number of people who had worked on similar sites (ie. as factory workers).
Provided a rigorous framework is established and adhered to, and appropriate provision made in the project costs, then the reality of archaeology in the twenty-first century can (and should) embrace volunteers wherever possible. Only by engaging with non-archaeologists and working with them will we be able to overcome some of the issues we have seen in (yet another) metal detecting thread.
I would be very interested to hear from others about their experiences.
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