Ello Ello - Criminal Record Checks on volunteers

[BAJR Host]

I like to help...


"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli

[troll]

Devils advocate time...
Imagine a scenario where archaeology opens its doors to volunters taken directly from the probation service. Community service orders largely result in grass cutting, painting or graffiti removal. Archaeology could and in my view should consider making real contributions to society on the whole and by and large-we don`t. By that, I mean that on the whole, our contributions begin and end with volunteer schemes and public archaeology.

I would argue that we could offer structured placements aimed directly at those who find themselves trapped within the criminal justice system. We simply have so much to offer young minds and if we can motivate youngsters towards real tangible change in their lives through opening them up to critical theory and a whole host of meaningful processes-all the better.

Archaeology could be seen as a fringe of society. The information we collate remains largely for the benefit of those with an interest and although there are some excellent moves towards an inclusive public ethos, we still occupy a position of "entertainment" for some and opportunities to be Indiana Jones for others.

Could we not become an integral component for social change? We could make real differences to peoples lives and in the context of offenders, rather than holding them at arms length and shirking our social responsibilities, could we not look into our collective potential and see that there is a very real role we could be playing here? :face-huh:

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[Austin Ainsworth]

quote:Originally posted by troll

Devils advocate time...
Imagine a scenario where archaeology opens its doors to volunters taken directly from the probation service. Community service orders largely result in grass cutting, painting or graffiti removal. Archaeology could and in my view should consider making real contributions to society on the whole and by and large-we don`t. By that, I mean that on the whole, our contributions begin and end with volunteer schemes and public archaeology.

I would argue that we could offer structured placements aimed directly at those who find themselves trapped within the criminal justice system. We simply have so much to offer young minds and if we can motivate youngsters towards real tangible change in their lives through opening them up to critical theory and a whole host of meaningful processes-all the better.

Archaeology could be seen as a fringe of society. The information we collate remains largely for the benefit of those with an interest and although there are some excellent moves towards an inclusive public ethos, we still occupy a position of "entertainment" for some and opportunities to be Indiana Jones for others.

Could we not become an integral component for social change? We could make real differences to peoples lives and in the context of offenders, rather than holding them at arms length and shirking our social responsibilities, could we not look into our collective potential and see that there is a very real role we could be playing here? :face-huh:

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

Hi Troll, young offenders programmes have been worked into outreach programmes by quite a few community archaeological officers, the one that springs to mind, if you want information on how it works, is York Archaeological Trust's Hungate site. The person to contact would be Dr. Jon Kenny, YAT's community archaeologist.

[u]PLUG</u> Also watch out for my article in the next edition of 'Past Horizons' about outreach work with marginalised communities in Gloucester. [u]PLUG</u>

[troll]

Evening Austin and many thanks for your response. Sounds great and I will indeed check out the YAT innitiative:face-approve:
Do you think that this is something that we as a profession could formalise in some way? Broaden the scope so to speak to allow for greater participation across the UK?

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[kevin wooldridge]

Very good post Troll....I wonder if your idea couldn't be expanded to fit any number of excluded sections of our society and not just offenders.

Maybe its the sort of potential involvement that could have more appeal to government funding to protect our skillsbase rather than that old establishment fallback of writing a letter to 'The Times' and hoping the 'old boys network' rallies round...I think David Blunkett made a similar suggestion regarding Heritage and Community involvement in a Fabian Soc. discussion paper last year.

And (of course) look forward to reading your article too Oz....

With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[troll]

Agree entirely Kevin. It might sound a bit grand but I honestly do believe that archaeology (and allied heritage endeavours) should be playing a more formal and integrated role in society. Just what is the point of trying to understand past societies if our contemporary one doesn`t benefit from our "hindsight"? To be a bit flippant- what is the point of forcing people into citizenship classes when the vast majority of "indigenous" (here we go again...) Brits struggle with an imposed/perceived or given national identity? Forests of grey literature lounge about in plastic covers and vast collections of artefacts choke museum storerooms. An enormous social tool is just sitting there waiting for someone to get it out to the community.

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[Austin Ainsworth]

quote:Originally posted by troll

Do you think that this is something that we as a profession could formalise in some way? Broaden the scope so to speak to allow for greater participation across the UK?

I think that the scope for such projects is extremely wide, the principles once established could be applied to many marginalised groups. The group I'm currently working with in Gloucester consists, as a broad category, of the homeless and vulnerably housed; within that group there are people who have significant problems with alcohol and/or substance abuse/misuse, a history of prison terms, offending and also people suffering mental health problems. As well as homeless organisations who cater for their housing needs there are other groups who work specifically on their drug, alcohol, offending and mental health issues. Each of these groups could have bespoke programmes designed for them within a standardised set of procedures, which use heritage as a framework around which that programme can be formed.

quote:Originally posted by kevin wooldridge

Maybe its the sort of potential involvement that could have more appeal to government funding to protect our skillsbase....

I'm not sure about that, the skills needed for this type of community outreach are significantly different from those needed for other areas in the heritage sector. I also wouldn't want community heritage work to be seen as a haven for archaeologists to ride out the current economic crisis. This is work that should be done primarily for its own sake and only secondly, as a beneficial by-product, to protect the archaeological skills base.

[kevin wooldridge]

I don't disagree Oz....arent these skills that we should be learning?

With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[Austin Ainsworth]

quote:Originally posted by kevin wooldridge

I don't disagree Oz....arent these skills that we should be learning?

With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

Yes. Social care, equal opportunities and teaching skills are just as important as archaeological skills for community heritage work.

[kevin wooldridge]

Strange how art imitates life, but....I just heard on the radio (and then read on the BBC website) that the government are considering a compulsory community service scheme for 16-18 year olds and that this will be included in their manifesto for the 2010 election.

Would there be any advantage to the archaeology profession to be involved in this at an early stage? (I was thinking of using the potential of the scheme as a springboard to community archaeology projects rather than as a commercial application).

With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...