Broaden Participation and Representation

Find advice and examples to improve diversity in recruitment, audience engagement, and governance, addressing barriers that limit participation from underrepresented groups.

On this page:

Laying foundations for broader representation
Understanding your organisation's diversity
Engaging under-represented groups
Inclusive boards and diverse trustees
- Supporting board members
- Board recruitment and growth

Laying foundations for broader representation

How Can We Achieve Disability Confident Committed, Employer or Leader Status?
Guidance on the UK Government’s Disability Confident scheme.
How Do I Develop an Inclusion, Diversity and Equality Strategy?
Advice for those who are taking the important step to develop an Inclusion, Diversity and Equality Strategy at their organisation.
How Can Staff Networks Help Our Organisation Become More Inclusive?
Advice for organisations looking to establish and support staff networks, also known as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
How Do We Build a More Diverse Membership?
Advice on how to reach the widest possible audience and build a strong supporter base to benefit your heritage organisation.

Understanding your organisation's diversity

Why Is It Important to Understand the Diversity of Heritage Workforces?
Knowing who is represented and who isn't in your workplace can help you understand barriers and how to tackle them.
How Do We Stay GDPR Compliant When Conducting a Workforce Survey?
Information aimed at individuals and organisations who wish to conduct their own diversity surveys, and how to comply with GDPR.
How Do We Communicate the Value and Importance of the Diversity Survey to Our Workforce?
Information for heritage sector organisations with employees undertaking the Historic England heritage sector workforce diversity survey.
What Does the Workforce in the Heritage Sector Look Like in 2024?
Results and recommendations from the 2024 Heritage Sector Workforce Diversity Survey.
What Does the Volunteer Cohort of the Heritage Sector Look like in 2025?
Take part in the 2025 Historic England Heritage Sector Volunteer Diversity Survey.
How Can We Conduct a Board Diversity Audit and Share Our Findings in Compliance with GDPR?
Guidance on how to audit and effectively communicate about board demographics in line with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
How Do We Communicate the Value and Importance of Diversity Surveys to Our Volunteers?
Guidance for heritage sector organisations with employees taking part in the 2025 Historic England Heritage Sector Volunteer Diversity Survey.

Engaging under-represented groups

What Should We Be Aware Of When Looking to Engage with Refugee Communities?
Advice about ways to connect with refugees in your area and what to consider when engaging with these communities.
How Can I Set Up and Run a Youth Panel?
A youth panel might be a valuable way of engaging young people in your work. Get advice on how to devise, recruit and run a panel.
Case Study: Uncovering the Role of Sikh Mothers in Smethwick's Industrial Heritage
A case study on the 'Rags to Riches: How Sikh Mothers Made Smethwick' project, led by the Sikh Development Academy.
Case Study: Working with Volunteers to Address a Lack of Bengali Representation in Public Collections
A case study on capturing and preserving the images and oral histories of the Bengali community in East London, led by Four Corners.

Inclusive boards and diverse trustees

Supporting board members

How Do We Make Sure Our Organisation Is Ready for a Diverse Board?
Guidance to help heritage organisations understand different ways culture change can be used to ensure a diverse board can govern effectively.
How Do We Support Our Board Members Through Times of Challenge and Change?
Advice on protecting the wellbeing of trustees facing challenges.
How Can We Embed Inclusion as a Priority?
How to embed inclusion, diversity and equality across your organisation without relying on staff or volunteers with lived experience expertise.
How Can We Respond to Negative Online Feedback as a Board?
Advice on managing harassment as a heritage board and as individuals.
What is Impostor Syndrome and How Do Board Members Overcome It?
A guide to recognising and tackling persistent feelings of self-doubt and lack of belief in skills, knowledge and ability.

Board recruitment and growth

How Can We Recruit More Diverse Members for Our Heritage Board?
Guidance for organisations on best practice in recruiting and including more diverse members on their boards.
What Benefits Are There to Being on a Heritage Board?
Advice about how to communicate the benefits of being on a heritage board to potential trustees.
How Can Being on a Board Benefit My Career Goals?
Whether you're applying or recruiting, discover the skills and experience potential members of heritage boards can develop.
What is Essential for Inclusive Onboarding for Board Members?
Guidance for organisations on developing trustee onboarding documents and procedures such as trustee handbooks and information packs.
How Do We Retain Board Members?
Guidance on the gold standard for retaining board members.
How Can We Make It Possible for Our Employees to Sit on Boards of Other Organisations?
Practical advice on the ways organisations can support their staff to become board members and the benefits of doing so.
How Do We Identify Barriers Within Our Board Application Process?
Advice for heritage organisation boards looking to develop their inclusive practices by understanding the barriers faced by under-represented groups.
How Do We Set Up a 'Shadow Board' or Trainee Board Member Placements?
Guidance on how to set up shadow boards, board shadowing programmes and trainee board member placements.
Case Study: 6 Steps to Recruiting Inclusively for Heritage Boards
A case study drawing on the experience of Historic Buildings and Places.
Case Study: Making Board Opportunities Inclusive by Removing the Need for Previous Board Experience
A Collections Trust case study on recruiting people with no previous board experience.
Case Study: Recruiting Trustees Who Bring New Perspectives
A case study highlighting 6 practical steps towards adding new perspectives to your board.
Case Study: Establishing a Young Members Board
A case study about supporting organisations to survive and thrive by establishing a Young Members Board.