Knowledge and Skills

Heritage supports personal development

Engaging with heritage helps us grow as individuals.

The beauty of built heritage can spark imagination and inspire creativity. Visiting historic sites where significant events unfolded helps us connect with the experiences of others, encouraging a deeper understanding of different perspectives and histories.

Heritage sites also offer opportunities to sharpen critical thinking skills. When faced with different interpretations of history, visitors question, reflect and develop their understanding.

Heritage volunteers gain a sense of purpose and connection to the community along with increased confidence. Participating in heritage activities like archaeological digs or restoration projects helps people develop teamworking and communication skills.

Heritage helps build knowledge and appetite for learning

By engaging with heritage, people not only learn about the past but also topics like maths, science, languages and culture that are woven into the stories and fabric of historic sites.

Hands-on experiences, such as archaeology projects, allow people to gain practical knowledge about history, archaeology and conservation. These activities often spark curiosity and inspire a continued interest in both local and world heritage.

Learning about heritage can also inspire pride and a stronger sense of place, particularly among children. Exploring local stories and landmarks can boost aspirations and help young people feel more connected to their local area. Historic sites make the past more accessible and meaningful to young minds and inspire imaginative play.

The heritage sector helps organisations and individuals develop the skills they need to grow

Participating in heritage activities can help people of all ages develop valuable skills and gain qualifications that benefit both their personal and professional lives.

Hands-on projects like archaeological digs teach practical skills such as archival research, photography and writing for publication.

Heritage activities often involve working to set standards, reflecting on tasks, and collaborating with a team. Many participants report enjoying the experience of learning something new and building confidence in their abilities.

Asking about the role of heritage in personal development helps you understand how your organisation and activities support volunteers' confidence, resilience, and interpersonal growth.

You could ask questions that explore how volunteering contributes to people’s sense of personal progress. For example:

• Whether a volunteer's experience has increased confidence in their own abilities
• If they feel their problem-solving and critical thinking skills have improved
• Whether they have developed better teamwork and collaboration skills
• How volunteering has helped them engage with people from different backgrounds

These kinds of questions allow you to assess how your work helps individuals build emotional intelligence, adaptability, and communication skills.

This feedback helps demonstrate the developmental value of volunteering and shows how heritage organisations can play a vital role in helping people grow both personally and professionally.

Asking about the role of heritage in building knowledge helps you understand how your organisation and events contribute to visitors' and volunteers' learning and understanding of heritage and culture.

You could ask questions that explore how participation in heritage impacts people's knowledge. For example:

• Whether attending has increased their knowledge about topics like local history or cultural heritage
• If they have gained a deeper understanding of specific topics or themes
• How your organisation’s work helps them learn more about their community’s history and culture
• Whether the content was informative and expanded their understanding
• How their awareness of local history and culture has increased because of attending

Additionally, questions about knowledge improvement can ask visitors to rate how their knowledge of a specific subject has changed before and after attending.

This feedback helps you assess the educational value of your work and shows how heritage experiences contribute to broadening people’s knowledge

Asking about the role heritage can play in skill development and gaining qualifications helps you understand how your organisation and events contribute to building practical skills and boosting visitors' confidence.

You could ask questions to explore how participating in your events or exhibitions supports visitors in gaining new and transferable skills. For example:

• Whether attending has improved their communication skills or ability to share ideas
• If they feel more confident in their skills after participating
• Whether they learned practical skills that will be useful in their personal or professional life
• How your organisation provides opportunities for skill-building in areas like public speaking, art, research, or teamwork
• Whether they feel confident in applying new skills in real-world settings

Additionally, questions about specific skills allow you to assess how events help visitors develop various abilities, from critical thinking and creative skills to leadership and digital literacy.

This feedback helps you evaluate the practical value of your work and demonstrates how heritage can play a role in supporting personal and professional growth.