1-3 pm, 28 November 2024, Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre
The first in a series of six free archaeology workshops are set to take place on Thursday 28 November at Beeston Canalside Heritage Centre, as part of a scheme set up by Beeston-based York Archaeology with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Participants are encouraged to sign up for all six sessions, which run on 28 November, 5 & 12 December, and continue in the new Year on 9, 16 and 30 January. They will experience a host of activities, from finds-handling, interpretation, illustration and photography, to investigating local old maps, images and archives, and looking at and recording local historic buildings. The activities have been shown to improve health and wellbeing, foster new social connections and improve self-esteem and confidence through the gaining of new skills and knowledge.
“Our York-based team has been running a national pilot which involves using archaeology to promote health and wellbeing, and has been working with mental health charities, the NHS and community groups. Participants get involved in archaeological activities and investigations, and have reported a significant benefits. It has helped tackle social isolation, fostered an interest in local history and generally improved the sense of wellbeing amongst participants,” comments Laura Parker of York Archaeology. “We believe that this would work fantastically well in Nottingham, so are looking for people to sample and evaluate how these free sessions could be introduced here.”
The sessions launching on 28 November are open to the public to attend, but the organisers are also looking to work with community, health and wellbeing groups around Nottinghamshire to set up further Heritage In Mind sessions as part of a pilot scheme to see how archaeology can help improve health and wellbeing. The York Archaeology team will bring the workshop to participating groups’ regular meetings at absolutely no cost.
The innovative social prescribing project on which Heritage In Mind is based, known as Archaeology on Prescription, was recognised as the community project of the year 2022 by the National Museum and Heritage Awards following its work in the City of York. York Archaeology’s Nottingham-based hope that it can spread the word of the importance of heritage within health and wellbeing and create sustainable Nottinghamshire-based projects in the future.
For more details, please contact Laura Parker by email at [email protected].
To learn more about Archaeology on Prescription click here or to learn more about Heritage in Mind click here.
