Memorandum submitted by the National Youth
Agency
INTRODUCTION: MAKING
HERITAGE ACCESSIBLE
The National Youth Agency (NYA) welcomes the
announcement of a new inquiry into the heritage sector. Heritage
matters to people, and The NYA supports the work that the Heritage
Lottery Fund (HLF) has done in putting people at the centre of
heritage and heritage at the heart of community life.
Our submission draws on our experience of managing
the Young Roots Programme (administered by the HLF and delivered
in partnership with The NYA). The programme offers grants of between
£5,000 and £25,000 and aims to involve 13-20-year-olds
(up to 25 for those with special needs) in finding out about their
heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting
community involvement. Young Roots projects stem directly from
young people's interests and ideas, harnessing their creativity
and energy and helping them work with others in their local community.
We know from this experience that heritage matters
to young people though they often struggle to engage with it as
it is conventionally defined (ie focusing on historic buildings,
museums). However, where a broader definition is used (focusing
on identity, culture, faith, traditions etc), the involvement
of young people is substantially increased. Heritage ceases to
be something remote and irrelevant and becomes more accessible.
HERITAGE AND
YOUNG PEOPLE
More research is required to capture the wider
benefits of heritage related activities, and not just by monitoring
visitor numbers. The Young Roots programme is currently monitoring
500 projects to identify:
— Skill development of young participants;
— Long term impact on young people;
— Impact on wider communities.
Key findings so far include:
— Overall, 91% of participants stated
that young people had acquired new skills, particularly practical
skills such as photography and team working.
— Young Roots has changed some young
people's conception of heritage, often prompting young people
to think about the subject for the first time.
— 95% of participants identified one
or more benefits to the community.
Other benefits of the programme include:
— Relationships formed in the projects
have enabled better inter-generational communication through oral
history and reminiscence projects;
— Reducing anti-social behaviour by
relieving boredom and frustration;
— Increasing community pride through
a greater awareness of people's contribution to civic life and
their place in history;
— Developing a range of practical and
creative skills (for example ICT, photography;
— Encouraging community cohesion through
contacts between different ethnic groups an greater understanding
of cultures and migration;
— Reducing racial tension, by sharing
experiences and increasing understanding across communities.
Evidence from Young Roots would suggest that
where heritage is broadened to include a cultural and personal
definition then access is increased, particularly amongst those
less likely to engage with more traditional forms of heritage.
From the examples we have given above it not difficult to see
the impact on wider government policy (community cohesion, behaviour
etc).
THE ROLE
OF CULTURAL
ORGANISATIONS
The NYA believes that there is much that the
Department of Culture, Media and Sport could do to align spending
on heritage and culture with wider social and educational policy
priorities. The work HLF has done in recent years to improve its
consultation with the public is a useful model. The Young Roots
programme has evolved significantly as a result of this community
consultation.
There is sometimes a lack of clarity about representation
in the heritage sector and a danger of overlapping roles. Greater
clarification on the remit of publicly funded bodies and their
funding programmes may help this and avoid the potential for duplication
of effort.
CO-OPERATION
AND PARTNERSHIP
Many local authority funded museums and galleries
are beginning to do excellent outreach work and recognise the
importance of reflecting the diversity of the communities in which
they are located. We do not believe there has always been a comparable
shift in approach in private sector museums and galleries. This
need to happen. Money is the main problem here although demand
for these services (eg from schools) can be high both the statutory
and private sectors struggle with grants that are often time-limited
and short-term.
Partnerships should be encouraged further—for
example between museums and youth services. The success of the
Young Roots programme is based on the development of local partnerships
between youth work and heritage organisations. Each sector has
brought their experience and knowledge to create a broad range
of opportunities for young people to explore, celebrate and recognise
the diverse heritage of the UK. The partnerships have benefited
through:
— Sharing resources eg access to venues,
equipment, information;
— Bringing together the essential skills
and approaches to deliver a quality learning programme;
— Broadening and improving access to
a range of activities for young people.
CONCLUSION
— Heritage projects can be an excellent
way to engage young people in communities, but a broader definition
of heritage is essential if this is to happen and the funding
is to flows from it.
— Partnerships (for example between
heritage and youth work sectors) can demonstrate real success.
94% of Young Roots partnerships continue to develop activities
beyond the HLF funding period.
— The DCMS needs to adopt a wider and
more inclusive definition of heritage which would help it to align
with wider social and educational policies and recognise the value
to the public in improving social capital.
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