Archaeology for all – even young people!
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 01/06/2016

The Council for British Archaeology has considerable experience of working with young people aged under 16 through its long-established – and award winning – Young Archaeologists’ Club (www.yac-uk.org). There has been a long-standing issue of how to sustain the interest of YAC members once they reach 16 when opportunities are far fewer. This has partially been addressed via the growth of community archaeology and the CBA
bursary programme – funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund – to train archaeologists with the ‘soft skills’ needed to encourage and facilitate engagement, particularly of young people. The CBA is also working with younger members to consider options for engaging post-16 year olds. Options to be outlined for discussion include expanding the provision of A Level Archaeology to allow students to study archaeology as an academic discipline for the first time, establishing support networks and event programmes to bring together young people to provide mutual support, and also promoting training in various ways.

Mike HEYWORTH (Council for British Archaeology)