‘How can organisations shift their corporate thinking to embed access and diversity into all working practices?’
Ling Wong’s opinion was that organisations, as part of society, still don’t often look into the intrinsic qualities of people that drive forward diversity change, and organisations need to shift their position and see themselves as part of the community, not outside of it.
Boniface stipulated that organisations should develop a shared understanding of what is meant by ‘access’ and ‘diversity’, then adopt strategies for change that are consistent with the culture they operate within. Senior management should be committed role models.
Sutton explained the challenges faced by The Environment Agency to encompass diversity, and claimed they were tough but necessary, involving a change of image and service delivery in order to attract a range of people.
Hedley felt the process of ensuring accessibility in organisations must run through every thread of action. He quoted Martin Luther King:“Shallow understanding from well-intentioned people is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill-will.”
Audience Q & A insued. Delegates wanted more information on initiating cultural change and increasing diversity amongst the workforce.
Sutton gave examples of his organisation’s experience, such as examination and alteration of the qualification specifications for certain positions, and the re-wording of job adverts so as not to alienate certain groups of people.
One delegate raised the point that while change may be necessary, people need to experience why it is important or it’s meaningless to them.
Click to download a soundbite from Judy Ling Wong or press play below:
Click to download a soundbite from Rob Sutton or press play below:
Marika Spence, performed in the community play on day one of the conference and is involved with Trafford Youth Service
It is essential to engage and inspire young people about heritage if the future is to preserve the past. The workshop looked at two issues:
Kelly spoke about the five-year grant-awarded Young Roots programme – a funding provider for young people’s heritage projects. ‘The key to obtaining grants is getting young people participating in projects from the outset.’
Points to consider when bidding include:
What heritage skills do you have? For example, what is your equipment?
What personal development skills (e.g. presentation) do you possess?
What new skills (e.g. drama, dance) can you employ?
Click to download Andy Kelly’s soundbite or press play below:
Vayani presented on his work at Leicester-based Youth Voice regarding a project ‘Creating Tomorrow’s Heritage Today’. Young Roots had supported this. It reflected the cultural diversity in Leicester and found ways of involving young people from all backgrounds.
Gleaves gave a short presentation on an arts and heritage project with Quarry Bank Mill in Styal, funded by Young Roots. She stressed the importance of establishing ground rules in partnerships to help build relationships and avoid communication breakdown.
Before the workshop closed, delegates discussed the issues highlighted and gave feedback, raising points such as:
Be clear about aims and goals
Manage expectations from both sides
Make the project relevant to the young people’s lives
Make the project finite, but what is the value and sustainability beyond?
Veronica Bowers - Feek – Unpaid Work Project Manager, Sussex Probation Service
James Mason – Northumbria Dry Stone Walling Institute
Chris Holyrod – Head of Access and Learning, HM Young Offenders Institute Deerbolt
Gail Graham – Outreach Officer, English Heritage
Speakers from the Probation Service, Deerbolt Young Offenders Institute in County Durham, the Northumberland Dry Stone Walling Institute and English Heritage discussed two projects involving offenders. One project involved people subject to Community Punishment orders, working to restore an old mill. The other involved young offenders on day release from their institution learning how to build traditional dry stone walls.
Junie Joseph - Community Champions Officer, Mosaic Partnership, Council for National Parks
The aim of this session was to identify barriers to widening access to green spaces and natural heritage, and to look at ways how they might be overcome. (more…)
The facilitators worked with the delegates in small groups to explore how heritage volunteering can be successfully developed to reflect diversity in our society.
This was a practical workshop with a number of activities designed to get us thinking about using arts with a heritage theme. After splitting into two groups, the participants began the session with an introductory activity, using small children’s toys. We each chose an item and used it to introduce ourselves to the rest of the group, including our reason for our choice and what the item meant to us.
We then discussed the various projects that we were involved in, and chose one project within each group to look at in more detail. (more…)
This lively session offered a whistle stop tour of the crucial things to think about if you are embarking on a project to collect oral histories. Presenter Padmini Broomfield drew on her extensive experience as an oral historian for Southampton City Council, providing practical tips covering preparation, identifying interviewees, the interview process, equipment, documentation and many creative ideas on what to do with the oral history once it has been collected.
is meant by ‘access’ and ‘diversity’, then adopt strategies for change that are consistent with the culture they operate within. Senior management should be committed role models.
every thread of action. He quoted Martin Luther King: “Shallow understanding from well-intentioned people is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill-will.” 
