Bringing the past to life through a unique
traineeship
If you have a passion for history and relish the
idea of bringing the past to life then a career in archives could
be the ticket.
Tower Hamlets Local History Library &
Archives is offering residents the chance to apply for a 12 month
paid traineeship in heritage skills as part of a new scheme.
Opening Up Archives is an exciting training
programme offered in partnership with The National Archives that’s
been specifically designed for people who may never have thought
about a career in Britain’s archive sector.
Trainees will spend a year working on
real-life projects whilst learning specialist skills that will
equip them for a career in the heritage sector.
Tower Hamlets Local History Library &
Archives based in Bancroft Road, Mile End, will provide on-the-job
training in heritage skills such as cataloguing, preservation and
research as well as community engagement and collection
development.
Opening Up Archives is funded by the Heritage
Lottery Fund’s Skills For The Future programme, and is a nationwide
project helping to build a more diverse workforce in the field of
archives and local history. The scheme funds two successive annual
traineeships in Tower Hamlets.
In a unique collaboration with Bethnal
Green-based Somali cultural organisation KAYD, the trainees
recruited in 2012-2013 will be managed and mentored jointly by the
history library and KAYD; focusing on collecting and celebrating
the stories and archives of the Somali community.
Tamsin Bookey, Heritage Manager at Tower
Hamlets Council said: “This is a really interesting scheme and I
hope young people will be curious to find out more.
“Trainees will have a real hands-on role
learning about the different communities which have shaped Tower
Hamlets. They will be involved in acquiring archives reflecting the
Somali community for our collections and putting together
exhibitions to bring them to a wider audience.”
A bursary of £14,500 will be available for the
trainee, who will have a chance to study and network with other
trainees on the scheme hosted at archives across England.
The scheme is now open for applications. To
find out more, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/opening-up-archives
December 21, 2011