Summary

The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) Community Archaeology Bursaries Project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund through its Skills for the Future programme, with additional support from English Heritage, Cadw and Historic Scotland. The project is enabling the CBA to offer year-long workplace learning bursaries designed to equip would-be community archaeologists with the skills, experience and confidence to work with voluntary groups and communities.

Project aims

Workplace learning

Bursary holders learn by directly working with line managers, training providers and mentors at their host organisations in order to acquire the skills needed to run and support effective community archaeology projects.

The skills being acquired and developed are the kind of ‘soft’ or intangible skills that are needed when working with the voluntary sector and young people in particular. These include:

• Interpersonal skills, for example: social skills, empathy, listening skills and coping with authority
• Organisational skills, such as: personal organisation, and the ability to order and prioritise
• Analytical skills, such as: the ability to exercise judgement, manage time or solve problems
• Personal skills, for example: insight, motivation, confidence, reliability and health awareness

Evaluation

Placements are structured and monitored with an Independent Learning Agreement; this sets out SMART objectives for the year and is driven by the needs of the individual and the opportunities available within the host organisation. Reflective learning is reinforced throughout the placement with completion of monthly journals, an ongoing learning log and submission of a portfolio of the trainee's work for the NVQ in Archaeological Practice. 

Bursary cohorts

Executed in five cohorts over a three-year period, the project is providing a total of 51 paid bursary placements; of these, half have a specific focus on developing ‘youth-engagement’. 

• April 2011 - April 2012: our first cohort of training places
• April 2012 - April 2013: the second year of placements
• October 2012 - October 2013: our first 'youth-focus' round comprising 12 bursaries
• April 2013 - April 2014: our fourth cohort of placements, recently commenced
• September 2013 - September 2014: our second round of 'youth-focused' placements, to be recruited

Full details for bursary applicants will be made available on our jobs page and recruitment for the next round will be advertised on this web page.

• A placement view from Norfolk

Placement hosts

Placements are hosted by strategically identified heritage organisations across the UK that have existing experience of delivering strong and effective community archaeology programmes.

Current and previous hosts comprise a range of organisations and include:

• Archaeological and Heritage Trusts
• Commercial units
• Local and National Park authorities
• University departments
• National museums

View CBA Community Archaeology Bursaries Project in a larger map

FAQs

For more information please take a look at our list of Frequently Asked Questions