Unfortunately, one of the speakers in our session on the impact of the Big Society has had to pull out, so I'm on the look-out for someone to fill the gap. Please could you let me know ASAP if you would be able to present anything? The session is on the final day of the conference, Friday 19th April, and speakers get to attend on the day for free, which includes lunch!! Full details here: http://www.archaeologists.net/2013makingwaves
Session abstract: Although specific heritage legislation and policy has a clear impact on heritage protection and archaeological work in the UK, throughout history policy has also been affected by the dominant political agendas and philosophies of the time. Following elections in May 2010, the new Coalition Government came into power in the UK, with a manifesto focused on the ‘Big Society’. This is in essence a localism agenda, aimed at decentralization and the devolvement of power from central to local government. One of the main aims of the Big Society is to enable local communities to become more self-sufficient and less reliant on state provision, as well as encouraging them to take local action. Thus, there are a number of measures within the 2011 Localism Bill aimed at empowering local communities to take a much more active role in local decision-making, particularly in relation to planning and development. But what has been the impact of the Big Society agenda on British archaeology, or alternatively, what effect has British archaeology had on the Big Society? How does archaeology fit in to the localism agenda, and what can we do to ensure that it continues to have an impact in the future?
This session will include papers which outline the impact of ‘Big Society’ policies, using case studies to showcase the positive contributions that archaeology and heritage can make to, for example, local planning and neighbourhood development forums, community projects and events, capacity-building projects and local decision-making. Papers which critically review the impact of the Big Society may also be presented, although it is intended that the session will focus on examples of good practice.
Current line-up:
Dawn Mason (West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service) – Strengthening Local Communities: A partnership approach to exploring and valuing local heritage
Nicola Thorpe (WEA Inclusive Archaeology Education Project) – Digability and the WEA: The Benefits, Achievements and Legacy of the Inclusive Archaeology Education Project
Cath Neal & Steve Roskams (University of York) – The Big Society, localism and community engagement: uneasy bedfellows
Louise Brown – Just how sustainable is the ‘Big Society’: the view from the South Pennines
John Hearle – The value of cooperation between volunteers and professionals and the opportunities for funding
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