Training and Volunteers

[Austin Ainsworth]

quote:Originally posted by oldgirl

quote:Originally posted by Austin Ainsworth

quote:Originally posted by oldgirl

Hey Oz, maybe you should apply to be an RO!

It'll be a cold day in hell before that happens. }

Hmmm, why? What better way to demonstrate that community projects can easily meet the standards required? If you guys want to convince the 'commercial' sector that standards can be maintained and bettered within community projects (which is what you've all been saying) what better way than to show people?

Firstly, why does the voluntary sector have to convince the commercial sector of anything? Does anybody ask the academic sector to benchmark their fieldwork against commercial standards? 'Amateur' as well as academic archaeologists are already allowed to join the IfA and therefore accept the standards required; some 'professional' archaeologists are IfA members but work for non-RO companies who may or may not adhere to IfA standards and guidance. If there is no requirement for academics to benchmark the quality of their work against IfA standards why should there be that expectation for the voluntary sector? How many academic departments are RO's?

As I've mentioned before on this forum many local groups are involved in community heritage projects where archaeology is only one part of what they do and quite often only a small part at that. There are already national organisations where community groups can go for help and advice, the CBA has dedicated webpages for community activities, http://www.britarch.ac.uk/caf/wikka.php?wakka=HomePage and EH has Our Place, http://www.ourplacenetwork.org.uk/ ; what purpose would be served for community groups by becoming an RO when there are already so many other options open to them?

As part of my work with community groups in Gloucester I work with many diverse groups and as a result must have a firm grasp of issues relating to diversity, inclusivity and equalities; which IfA document could you point me towards that contains its policy on these issues? Does it have one?