Heritage2Health
About Heritage2Health
Heritage2Health stages ‘challenge events’ at heritage sites across the UK, aimed at supporting the wellbeing of people who may feel socially isolated or excluded because of a disability or health condition, or the demands of caring for others.
Founded in 2005 and now in its fourth year, and with enthusiastic support from the National Trust and English Heritage, Heritage2Health is currently developing a range of resources to enable a wider network of organisations and groups to stage Heritage2Health-branded challenge events.
How do our Heritage2Health ‘challenge events’ work?
Our challenge events bring together four key ingredients:
- A wide range of participants of all different ages and backgrounds, with a focus on those who may feel socially isolated or excluded because of physical, mental or learning disabilities, health conditions or the demands of caring for others. Participants work closely with..
- ..volunteers including young people, students and professionals from health and social care, and those working in the creative arts, at..
- ..heritage sites, where the beauty of our shared historic and natural environment provides a creative space for..
- ..the challenge event, which may be a physical, creative or social challenge – or all three.
Aims and benefits
The primary aim of our challenge events is to support wellbeing, based on research findings on the components of wellbeing. Our events are specifically designed to:
- Encourage active participation and creative input
- Recognise and celebrate achievements, not limitations
- Empower people to reach a new goal and develop their skills
- Build resilience by facing a challenge
- Disregard traditional barriers between people
- Develop social bonds, mutual understanding and a sense of community
- Create a fun, shared learning experience.
Our events also deliver important benefits for volunteers and partner organisations. Volunteers develop their understanding and skills in working with vulnerable groups. Partner organisations benefit from the feedback gathered after each event, which includes an evaluation of the event and everyone's learning experiences, and of the heritage site in terms of accessibility and related services.
- “I enjoyed interacting with people of all ages - developing my communication skills, relating to people as human beings. It was good to see the problems that needed to be overcome, to gain more understanding of someone's life. It was all about people’s lives - rather than 'patients' or 'problems'.” Student volunteer
- “We are really focusing on the health and wellbeing opportunities that our properties offer and this project is helping us develop our understanding of the benefits that visiting the historic environment can provide. We can learn together how easy or how difficult our sites are to access and how this can be improved.” Heather Smith, Head of Access for All, for the National Trust
- “The ongoing development of this partnership project will provide valuable opportunities to share expertise and resources, building on work that English Heritage is already undertaking to increase opportunities for people with all abilities to engage and participate with the historic environment.” Catherine Bloodworth, Head of Outreach, English Heritage
Next steps: the new Heritage2Health ‘package’
Would your organisation or group like to stage a Heritage2Health challenge event? Now in its third year, Heritage2Health is looking to expand its reach by supporting a network of organisations and groups to stage their own Heritage2Health-branded challenge events.
Based on the knowledge and experience we have gained over the past three years, we are developing a package of resources, training and support aimed at making the Heritage2Health concept available to a wider network. This will include:
- Sample programmes to support event planning and 'meet and greets', as well as the challenge event itself
- Planning and funding templates such as budgeting and sample sponsorship letters
- Communication templates including sample letters and medical forms
- A risk assessment tool
- Publicity materials such as sample event flyers, a dvd, a draft pitch to potential volunteers
- Feedback and evaluation templates
- Case studies and success stories
- A range of training materials and support.
We are seeking a number of organisations and groups (such as universities or colleges, student groups, heritage organisations, or community groups) to help us to test our approach and refine our package.
If you would like to find out more, please contact us.
Contact us
Heritage2Health is run by the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, in conjunction with the WestFocus Health Network
If you are interested in getting involved with Heritage2Health, or would like more information, please contact:
Theresa Nash
Director of Heritage2Health
Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences
Email t.nash@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)20 8725 0325
Debs Bunyan
Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences
Email d.bunyan@sgul.kingston.ac.uk
Tel +44 (0)20 8725 2155
Some of our past challenge events:
- Climbing Glastonbury Tor and making a film of the day
- Sunrise at Stonehenge
- A three-mile river walk, with a river crossing and ferry trip
- Making interactive art pieces at a historic London house.
Current partners and supporters:
- WestFocus Health Network
- The National Trust
- English Heritage
- South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust
- Learning Disabilities Caring Solutions
- Dr TCM
- Disability Pregnancy and Parenthood International
- MIND (City and Hackney)
- Royal College of Nursing (Adolescent Health Forum)
- Royal Society of Medicine (General Practice and Primary Care)