Outcome: a wider range of people will be involved in heritage
What this outcome means
If your project is a success, then the range of people benefiting from heritage will be more diverse than before your project started.
To achieve this outcome, you’ll need to include audience development work and community consultation in your planning.
You will need to collect and analyse information about the people who engage with your heritage - and those who don’t - and you’ll need to track how this changes over time.
There are many ways that technology can help you reach this outcome, and help more people know about and engage with your project. For example, you could have a project website or blog, you could promote your work through social media, and you could run consultations or activities online. See our Digital Skills for Heritage initiative for ideas and support.
What we are looking for
Signs that your audience or volunteer profile has changed between the start and end of the project might include a broader range of ages, ethnicities and social backgrounds, more disabled people, or groups who have never engaged with your heritage before.
What is Inclusion?
Inclusion is about the action needed to ensure UK contemporary society is better represented in heritage projects.
Things to consider
- Budget for inclusion: explore cost barriers that people with low incomes or a lack of previous experience face in getting involved in heritage.
- Be welcoming and listen: inclusion means we notice who is missing, who is not being heard or who prefers another learning style.
- Heritage belongs to everyone: we believe everyone should benefit from our funding, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, faith, class or income.
- Build inclusive partnerships: everyone benefits when heritage is more equitable. Use specialist partners in decision making, for example, when working with vulnerable, young people.
- Share inclusion guidance: use the guidance, blogs and other resources on our website, often co-written with stakeholders.
- Toilets matter: going to the loo is a human need. Learn about Changing Places and use your knowledge to influence larger grants.
- Inclusion is a continual process: recognise we are all learning about inclusion. Encourage ambition and accountability.
- Measure impact: use a variety of evaluation methods to demonstrate involving a ‘wider range of people’ in heritage.
- Be flexible: there is no ‘one size fits all’. We encourage organisations to be open, to listen, learn and share inclusion knowledge.
Digital project example
Although the island of Skomer has been closed to visitors for the duration of 2020 due to COVID-19, the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales used the opportunity to review and refresh communication with supporters and inspire new audiences to engage with the wildlife on Skomer.
Over a 14-week period from April to July, the Trust launched weekly livestreams across its social media networks featuring highlights from the island’s web cameras, including live footage of a Manx Shearwater chick hatching. The 14 episodes have attracted over 250,000 views with people across the globe including USA, Australia, Philippines, Austria, Germany, Canada, Aberdeen, France and Italy viewing content on Skomer’s unique natural habitats and wildlife.
Skomer Live! has demonstrated how projects using digital technology can help a wider range of people engage with heritage.