Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers

[Austin Ainsworth]

quote:Originally posted by troll

Do you think that this is something that we as a profession could formalise in some way? Broaden the scope so to speak to allow for greater participation across the UK?

I think that the scope for such projects is extremely wide, the principles once established could be applied to many marginalised groups. The group I'm currently working with in Gloucester consists, as a broad category, of the homeless and vulnerably housed; within that group there are people who have significant problems with alcohol and/or substance abuse/misuse, a history of prison terms, offending and also people suffering mental health problems. As well as homeless organisations who cater for their housing needs there are other groups who work specifically on their drug, alcohol, offending and mental health issues. Each of these groups could have bespoke programmes designed for them within a standardised set of procedures, which use heritage as a framework around which that programme can be formed.

quote:Originally posted by kevin wooldridge

Maybe its the sort of potential involvement that could have more appeal to government funding to protect our skillsbase....

I'm not sure about that, the skills needed for this type of community outreach are significantly different from those needed for other areas in the heritage sector. I also wouldn't want community heritage work to be seen as a haven for archaeologists to ride out the current economic crisis. This is work that should be done primarily for its own sake and only secondly, as a beneficial by-product, to protect the archaeological skills base.