HeritageDaily’s nominated charity, Soldier On! secures heritage-based opportunities to improve well-being and support the personal development of disadvantaged, vulnerable, or socially-isolated people.
Soldier On! projects are underpinned by two key pillars; Support for a specific demographic and, as well as taking into account individual personal development requirements, emphasis on a core competency such as communication, creative and critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving to name a few.
The projects are designed to create opportunities where attendees can make friends, work in a team, develop new skills or take the first steps towards happier and independent living.
The charity is now welcoming applications to join a project in South Yorkshire.
The Project: The archaeological focus will entail a series of detailed surveys and excavations within the area of a large and expansive privately-owned site which holds the medieval remains of Hampole Priory, founded in 1150 AD by Cistercian nuns until its closure during the dissolution in 1539.
The priory is most famously known for being the resting place of Richard Rolle, the medieval mystic and writer. Rolle served as a priest and spiritual adviser who probably lived in a cell attached to the priory church. The research by Nicholas Watson has shown that “during the fifteenth century Rolle was one of the most widely read of English writers, whose works survive in nearly four hundred English…and at least seventy Continental manuscripts, almost all written between 1390 and 1500.”
The project will be excavating a number of exploratory trenches to establish the plan and dates of the site’s evolution, from a medieval religious centre to the remains of 18th-century dwellings. The site will be recorded, cataloged and the relevant statutory bodies and landowner advised based on how best to protect and manage the historic site going forward.
Attendance Requirements: No previous archaeological experience required. One of Soldier On!’s guiding principles is to deliver inclusive community projects, where complete novices to archaeology are made extremely welcome.
The charity allocates spaces to people who are vulnerable, socially isolated or disadvantaged in some way. For this project, the charity will be allocating a minimum of 15 spaces to help armed forces veterans over the age of 50, who are looking for friendship and camaraderie through shared experiences.
The charity has also secured FIVE spaces for businesses who wish to sponsor the project and allow their staff to attend. We need to raise £5,000.
Please email [email protected] for information about sponsorship opportunities.
Heritage Activities: Digging, surveying, trowelling, recording, measuring, drawing, washing, cataloguing and protecting finds, photographing, videoing, updating social media, showing visitors around the site and presenting our finds. The project encourages participants to try out different aspects of the dig and to ask if there is something specific you wish to do.
Personal Development: Long-term unemployed participants, or those who feel that life has limited direction or meaning, will be offered FREE employability and life coaching, delivered by the projects partner, Transperformance™, see www.transperformance.net for details.
To register your interest please email [email protected]
