Challenging Times

Heritage groups discussing and viewing stalls at our recent Dundee & Fife Roadshow.

A personal perspective by SCHA Trustee Susan Kruse

This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of the SCHA Newsletter.

The pandemic was undoubtedly a difficult time for heritage organisations, and we are still seeing some of the aftershocks now. As SCHA starts to compile a directory of known heritage groups, museums and projects, we learned of groups that have folded or are struggling.

The reasons will resonate with many involved in heritage. One Highland group which had reasonably well-attended monthly lectures over the winter season put out a request for new volunteers to help with planning, as the existing organisers had been doing it for many years, and as they said, were not getting any younger. There were emails thanking them for the work, but no offers, as most of the group was also not getting any younger. The group has now folded, and with it the opportunities to learn together and share knowledge – because of course local heritage groups are much more than just lectures. They hold a great deal of local knowledge which inevitably does not get written down or preserved.

Of course the issue is not just from the pandemic. Groups have ebbed and flowed over the years, but recent times have perhaps accelerated this. The reasons are not hard to find, and have been highlighted in the last two Highland Heritage Days where local organisations have met to network and discuss common concerns and ways forward. We have an aging volunteer population underpinning most of our heritage groups and museums, and a time when many people are reconsidering their abilities and inclinations to volunteer. People want to listen and participate, but not necessarily to organise and rarely to become Board members and help with governance. While digital communication can connect us, it can also overload, and be seen increasingly as another hurdle to adjust to for older members.

There are ways forward however. In many cases it is useful just to know that your group is not alone. There is comfort in sharing concerns, and also benefits in sharing solutions and ideas which have worked. This is what we hope the SCHA roadshows will help set in motion. There are some organisations which can help as well with specific issues. The Make Your Mark project has created a toolkit for volunteering which may be of use to some groups. SCVO can help with governance issues. These and other groups will be represented at the roadshows.

There is also a great deal to say for local networking too, which can lead to collaboration and support. The last Highland Heritage Day looked at issues of volunteering and engagement, and shared successes and failures. This can be found on the ARCH website in the document library, within the Highland Heritage Day 2024 folder. Some may work for you, others are less relevant, but they provide a starting point for discussion. We hope similar insights will emerge from each local SCHA roadshow.

But sometimes there needs to be action more urgently, involving collaboration and local input. Jill Bowis describes in our September 2024 newsletter what happened when she issued a plea for help. It is worth noting that the sessions that Archaeology Scotland ran for the group did not address the issues of volunteering directly, but arguably it was more effective to have events which brought in new people and interests. Archaeology Scotland will aim to help other struggling archaeological groups. Arguably we need similar support structures for the rest of the heritage community.

As ever, SCHA welcomes your thoughts, and do get in touch to share stories of successes and failures. We hope to see as many groups, museums and people interested in their local heritage as possible at the roadshows. Please encourage others in your area to attend, and we can hopefully support each other in the future.