Background:
Training offered is aimed at up-skilling the voluntary sector; this broad group includes members of local groups and societies connected with the historic environment, self-identified ‘community archaeology’ groups, and interested volunteers engaging with heritage through volunteering opportunities provided by museums, the Council for British Archaeology and other heritage organisations.
Training is provided in response to identified needs and will increase capacity in the voluntary sector to carry out not only a range of practical archaeological skills, but also to enable a broader understanding of the requirements of good practice in planning, excavation, survey, research, recording, archiving, publication and dissemination, and sound financial planning.
Assessment of 'need' within the sector draws upon recent research by the CBA on Community Archaeology in the UK: Recent Findings (Suzie Thomas, 2010).
In England:
This capacity building project intersects with the Community Archaeology Bursaries Project with training events organised and led by a combination of bursary holders and professionals with specialist knowledge and skills, with input from individuals from the voluntary sector.
In 2011 a successful pilot event was run by the CBA in conjunction with the University of Bradford on the subject of 'geophysics for community groups'. In 2012 Community Archaeology trainees across England delivered five further events with the support of their host organisations: York Archaeological Trust, Surrey County Archaeological Unit, National Museums Liverpool, and the Centre for Applied Archaeology, University of Salford.
In Wales:
In 2012, the CBA provided three training events in Wales organised by the Community Archaeology Training Placements with Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, Dyfed Archaeological Trust and Cadw. Delivered in North and South Wales, training focused on archives and archaeology as well as graveyard and surveying skills.
