Identity

How can heritage contribute?

Heritage connects us to communities and places and gives us a sense of who we are. It plays a role in personal identity, helping us understand ourselves and feel part of something bigger. 

When measuring the social impact of heritage, we think about identity as the characteristics, qualities, and beliefs that define an individual.

What we already know

Looking across available research, here is a brief overview of the findings.

Heritage shapes personal identity

Heritage helps us understand ourselves and build connections when we discover qualities in a place or its story that we relate to.

Volunteering in heritage projects allows people to express who they are, strengthen their sense of belonging, and contribute to something they value.

Historic sites also play a powerful role in shaping identity. Visitors often feel a deep connection to places tied to their cultural or religious history, or to social history that connects them through work, food or shared experiences. This reinforces their sense of self and community.

Cultural traditions, such as traditional music, dance, and performance, also strengthen identity. People who participate in these activities report feeling connected to their roots and a deeper sense of belonging.

Whether through historic sites, traditions, or volunteering, heritage is a powerful force in shaping who we are and where we feel at home.

If you need to use these findings in a report or funding application, you can find more detail and the sources of the evidence by following the link below:

Find research evidence of heritage impact

How can you measure your impact?

1. Select relevant indicators

First, you need to decide whether you want to explore the impact of your project on the personal identity of your participants or local community or think about how someone’s identity impacts how they experience heritage.

What could you find out about impact on identity?

Asking your participants or local community about personal identity can help you understand how your organisation’s work influences their connections to their heritage and cultural background.

You could ask questions that explore how experiences at your organisation or events help people develop or strengthen their personal identity, such as:

• Whether your work helps visitors understand their own heritage or background better
• If the experience makes them feel more connected to their cultural roots
• Whether it deepens their understanding of their personal history or identity
• If it fosters a stronger sense of pride in their heritage
• How your organisation helps visitors appreciate their cultural traditions

In addition, questions about the role of heritage in their lives can reveal how significant local heritage is to them and how specific places have shaped their identity.

The responses you get to your questions could help you show how your organisation supports visitors and/or volunteers in exploring and developing their sense of self through heritage.

Please be mindful that questions which ask people to explore very personal issues connected to identity can be very emotive. They can also raise tensions between different people. Here are some resources we would recommend looking at before asking these questions:

• Download Challenging Conversations advice document
• See advice on Exploring Diverse Histories

Consider other areas of impact

Identity is 1 of 6 areas of social impact where your work could make a difference. Spend some time exploring all 6 and pick a set of indicators that fit the aims of your project.

2. Plan your data collection process

Explore data collection methods and design a process tailored to your project and resources. 

Data collection methods, when and how to use them

3. Get inspiration from case studies

See how other similar organisations have measured the impact of their activities.

Case studies