Networking
In 2019, SCHA conducted a Scotland wide roadshow as a way for the SCHA steering group to meet with and speak directly to a diverse range of individuals and groups from the community heritage sector, as well as bring people within the grassroots community together. From these meet ups, the aspirations were to identify needs within the sector, look further into regionality differences and encourage potential partnerships or opportunities for individuals and groups to work together.
We expanded the roadshow format for the Grassroots Heritage in Scotland project, bringing together heritage groups in the twelve SCHA regions – a community heritage networking and consultation exercise on an unprecedented scale. You can read more about this on the Grassroots Heritage in Scotland page of the website and find the reports from the events in our Library.
The board are now working towards new networking opportunities both in person and online to consult the community heritage sector on changing needs.
Communication is key and we will continue to link heritage groups and community groups in order to discover issue-specific concerns. We will aspire to use our website and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky) to make new connections with individuals, organisations and community groups.
Wherever possible, we will also provide newsletters or crisis posts to keep others informed of support or networking opportunities.
The content is driven by our members – you.
Advocacy
SCHA aims to represent the whole of Scotland and particular the regional parts of the community heritage sector.
We aim to combat isolation by creating the right avenues so that people meet and exchange experiences in looking after heritage assets.
We aim to reach out to to the most remote parts of Scotland and stove to make a positive impact for the community heritage sector.
During the pandemic, SCHA advocated on behalf of the community heritage sector to ensure non-accredited museums were equally represented and eligible to receive the same support as accredited museums. This opened up the avenue for non accredited museums to receive the support they needed as well as the opportunity to receive vital recovery funding to keep these community organisations afloat.
We want to represent those who feel their voices are not being heard. To some degree these are the smaller, local groups. As we identify common issues, let’s make sure these are gathered together to make a bigger impact.
Research
In 2019, SCHA worked with University of St Andrews, Ergadia and the NLS to organise roadshow consultations throughout Scotland.
The roadshow took SCHA all over Scotland, from Shetland down to the Scottish Borders, to meet and chat to people within community heritage directly.
It emerged that many groups and museums can often feel that concerns from a grassroots level are overlooked by higher organisations. There was support for the formation of a network to represent these views who can provide support, networking and can conduct further research relating to community heritage.
Through the Grassroots Heritage in Scotland project, SCHA built on that initial research through twelve regional roadshows across the nation. The views gathered in the roadshow discussion sessions were analysed and published as a report which was distributed to national heritage organisations to influence policy and activities, and is available in the Library on the SCHA website. The findings are also being used to inform SCHA’s future research and advocacy work.
SCHA has the expertise, experience and knowledge to identify gaps in the sector where data collected through research could lead to changes in policies and change of culture in the sector, this is what we will continue to strive to achieve.