Heritage Keepers is a free programme for schools or communities to work together to discover your local heritage. Over five 2-hour workshops you will explore your local place and then plan an action or actions to enhance that place.
We are also running free training (10 hours total) for teachers and community facilitators where you will be equipped with the resources to deliver the Heritage Keepers programme to your class or community group.
Have fun, learn something new, make a difference – become a Heritage Keeper!
How do I get involved? Follow these 3 simple steps :
- Discuss with your primary school (5th or 6th class students only), secondary school or community group and decide if you want to take part. Watch a recording of one of our information webinars held on Nov 23rd (link provided below)
- Submit your Expression of Interest form when we announce a call for applications. (link below to enter your details so we can notify you of this).
- We will be in touch with shortlisted applicants to get more information about your group and let you know how the programme would work in your setting.
Information webinars
Online Information Sessions were held on 23rd and 25th November 2021. If you would like to watch a recording of one of them please click on the link below.
Recording of an Online Information Session held in 23rd Nov 2021
Submit your Expression of Interest
Whether you are a primary school, a secondary school or a community group interested in participating in this training or a teacher or community facilitator interested in becoming a Heritage Keepers trainer, we invite you to fill out the relevant Expression of Interest form below.
Applications are now closed for submitting your expressions on Interest. If you would like to be notified about any future calls please submit you contact details below.
Please notify me about any future calls
*Note: Places on the programme are limited so if you don’t get a place this time round, we hope to offer more soon.
2022 Winning Applicants
It is with great excitement that we announce the list of schools and community groups that have successfully secured a place on our programme ‘Heritage Keepers’, a new pilot national Place-Based Learning and Stewardship initiative in partnership with the Heritage Council. We had over 90 applications and as this is a pilot we were limited to 10 community groups and 10 schools. We tried to ensure a good geographic spread of applicants and a mix of urban and rural communities. Priority was also given to applicants who had linked with other communities and schools in their area to work together. In addition, 40 teachers and community facilitators have been offered a place on our ‘Heritage Keepers’ Trainer programme. If your school or community didn’t secure a place this round don’t worry as we hope to expand the programme in the future. Rollout will begin next month and Burrenbeo will be in touch with you if your group was successful. Well done to all involved!
FAQs
Am I guaranteed a place on the HK programme if I send an Expression of Interest?
Unfortunately we are limited by capacity and also need to get as representative a demographic and geographic spread as possible so we will not be able to deliver the programme to everyone that expresses interest. We are hoping that the programme will be made more widely available in the future.
I’m an individual, can I take part in HK?
As we are investigating the best methods for sharing HK with others in this instance we are working only with schools and community groups or with those that will facilitate the programme with their own community or group in the future. We may be able to deliver HK to individuals in the future.
How much does it cost?
There are absolutely no costs for participation in HK. If there are costs associated with actions which participants wish to take there may be funds available for this.
When will the programme begin?
We hope to begin delivery early in 2022.
What link is there to curriculum?
Place-based learning is not an additional element to the existing curriculum, rather it is a method of delivering the curriculum.
For primary schools, the activities and skills in HK very clearly address elements of the SESE and SPHE curricula as well as having potential application to the Arts Education and Primary Language curricula. A research project conducted by Burrenbeo Trust outlined the strands and strand units which can follow a place-based approach, more details are available on this document.
In secondary schools, a place-based approach can be used to address elements of the Geography, History and CSPE curricula. HK also provides a meaningful Transition Year place-based learning module which can be applied in any setting.
Heritage Keepers also has the potential to address many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly 3: Good Health and Well-being, 4: Quality Education, 11: Sustainable cities and communities, 12: Responsible consumption and production, 13: Climate action, 14: Life below water, 15: Life on land and 17: Partnerships for the goals.
What is expected of my group / class if we take part in HK?
If selected to participate you will be expected to;
- Commit to engaging in the workshops (5 x 2hour sessions)
- Research, plan and complete a local action project
- Look to create links with others within your community
- Complete pre and post HK feedback
What is expected of me as a teacher/community facilitator if I take part in HK training?
If selected to participate you will have to;
- Commit to engaging in the workshops
- Facilitate delivery of HK to your class or community
- Research, plan and complete a local action project
- Look to create links with others within your community
- Complete pre and post HK feedback
What topics will the HK programme cover?
There are 5 modules in the HK programme through which participants will begin to explore the built, natural and cultural heritage of their area. Activities and resource sharing will provide a start point for discovering the many aspects of your local place and to identify meaningful local actions which could enhance these places for all.
The 5 modules are;
- Introduction and My Place – this module will introduce participants to the HK approach. We will begin to consider the layers of your place, what you like or dislike about your place and the local assets which exist.
- Culture and the past – using a variety of online resources we investigate what life was like in our place in the past. We learn about the legacy left by our ancestors; the stories and folklore, monuments and buildings.
- Biodiversity and land use – the natural heritage which surrounds us all is the topic of module three. We look to identify the changes in land use and our local environments and think about what we can do to protect biodiversity locally.
- The Future – having considered our places as they currently are, we look to the future and how we would like it to be. Initial ideas for action plans are discussed and a framework for moving them forward will be shared.
- Planning for action – having taken a two week back, we look to finalise local action plans as well as discussing how to engage the wider community and sharing some inspiration from actions already taken.
What happens after the workshops finish, is that it?
No – that’s just the start! Once the workshops have been completed groups will work on their local action plans. The HK team will provide ongoing support and mentoring while you are working on the projects. It is hoped that projects will be showcased nationally and that groups from around the country will be able to come together to share their experiences and celebrate their achievements collectively.
Is there any recognition for the actions taken?
There will be a national award programme to recognise the actions carried out around the country.
A bit more about Place-based Learning and Burrenbeo’s approach
The places where we live, work, socialise and play are a such big part of each one of us and our stories. We impact on these places and they impact us. But can we say that we really know our place and the many elements that make it unique?
Our places are made up of many layers – each place has its own unique history, geography, environment, culture and community which has shaped it over the years. Getting to know and experience the various aspects of our place and how they are interlinked can enhance our connection to that place, and the community that call it home.
Are there local monuments or historic places that we might learn more about or visit? How was our local landscape shaped – what are the significant land features or water bodies? What kinds of plants and animals share our place with us? Are there particular local customs and cultures and what is their origin?
The answers to all of these questions and much more are all part of what we call ‘place-based learning’ where communities can learn about their place, in their place, and for their place. Through a series of engaging and interactive activities we can learn together about our local heritage and environment and ultimately work together to carry out actions which can safeguard and enhance these unique elements of our place for the future.
Given the current urgency around the biodiversity crisis, climate change and community fragmentation, place-based learning is now more important than ever. We believe that local communities are the best stewards of their own places, with the proper support of course. Learning more about our places and their needs is the first step to building community stewardship, where communities and individuals feel empowered to take action locally to bring about real and meaningful change and action.
Supported by The Heritage Council and created by Burrenbeo Trust, who have decades of experience working with communities on place-based initiatives, the ‘Heritage Keepers’ programme is an opportunity for your community to learn more about your place and how you can work together to look after it, and each other.
Following a whole place, whole community approach, participants will be supported to explore and discover their local built, natural and cultural heritage. Working with school and community groups, the programme culminates in groups creating a PLACE plan to carry out a series of local actions which they will complete with support from Burrenbeo.
We hope you can be part of this wonderful journey of discovery!
For queries please contact info@burrenbeo.com
The ‘Heritage Keepers’ programme is being rolled out by Burrenbeo Trust in partnership with the Heritage Council and with support funding from Rethink Ireland Glas Community Fund.
