Funding success for community group that will support Highland communities to ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ to their local heritage

Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH) is celebrating a significant funding success that will see them launch a major new initiative in community heritage over the next few months.  ARCH is a community organisation set up in order to respond to a growing interest in local heritage throughout the Highlands.  Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Highland LEADER Programme and support from the Highland Council and First Scotrail they will be offering a three year long programme of courses, events and activities that will give local communities the chance to become more involved in learning about, recording and celebrating the archaeology and historic buildings that are on their doorsteps.

ARCH’s ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ Project comprises six interwoven programmes of courses and activities that are to be offered to communities throughout the Highlands.  Each has been designed to enable local people of all ages and abilities to experience and develop a whole range of heritage related skills and activities.  The ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ sessions include learning and hands on opportunities in researching aerial photographs, historical maps and archives and participation in field surveys and excavations.  Everyone who takes part will be involved in creating a record of heritage in their area, setting up exhibitions, publishing their findings and contributing to both regional and national archaeological records.

ARCH’s three Project Officers, Janet Hooper, Susan Kruse and Cait McCullagh bring their collective experience as archaeologists and community learning tutors involved in a variety of Highlands based heritage projects.

‘The Highlands has a rich and diverse archaeological and built heritage, that ranges from the scatters of stone tools left by the first settlers to the places, buildings and objects that have been created during more recent events in the lives of Highlanders.  These include the numerous prehistoric burials, chapels, farmsteads and World War II heritage sites that dot our landscape to name but a few.” says Hilary Lawson, Chair of the ARCH Board of Directors,  ‘We are thrilled that our funders and supporters have acknowledged the importance of supporting local people to learn more about their local heritage.  We look forward working together with local communities to help them share their knowledge and discoveries and record these for the benefit of both the local population and of visitors to the area; now and long into the future’.

Nicole Wallace, Programme Manager for Highland LEADER, one of the project’s main funders voiced their support for ARCH’s plans:

“The Highland LEADER Programme is delighted to be able to support this innovative, community led project. We look forward to seeing the programmes get underway and working with ARCH over the coming months.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the project a grant of £150,000. Colin McLean, Head of HLF in Scotland, said:

 "This is a fascinating project. Our rural communities have on their doorstep hidden clues to the way our ancestors lived and how our lives developed to what they are today.  We have seen, through other HLF funded initiatives, an increasing demand from people to volunteer for projects such as this, keen to expand their knowledge and their skills. By delving into the history around them, they will help shape the sense of identity of rural communities, while also providing a unique national archive."
 
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.   To date it has invested over £500million in Scotland's heritage.
 
If you would like to find out more about the ‘Stop, Look and Listen’ programmes please visit the ARCH website www.archhighland.org.uk or call 01349 868230.