Column 50 celebrates the network hub in York
Catherine Bell, acting listed buildings caseworker for England at the Council for British Archaeology, celebrates casework volunteers in this 50th column
On the occasion of National Volunteers Week, which usually opens June, we want to take this opportunity to thank our amazing casework volunteers. They help process the hundreds of listed building consent ( lbc) planning applications we receive each week onto our casework database. Our volunteers vary in the amount of time they have and the number of applications they take on, and it’s up to them how much depth they want to go into. But we welcome any observations they make.
The Council for British Archaeology ( cba) hosts the database on behalf of the National Amenity Societies. It’s impossible to comment on all the applications we receive, so when a volunteer logs in and flags up something that warrants attention, it’s always a help. We are proud that the database is publicly accessible, enabling anyone who feels interested to investigate planned changes to the historic environment, and to see comments made by amenity societies. Have a look! It’s at Casework.jcnas.org.uk.
The covid-19 crisis has forced a lot of us into finding a way to work successfully from home. This is clearly a lot easier for some professions than others. The Casework Hub means that we have an established network to reach out from our little office in York already in place.
We have seen little impact from the current pandemic on casework volunteers, who are based across the country and come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are early career heritage professionals, or people gaining relevant experience to work in this part of the sector. Other volunteers are retired and enjoy keeping their hand in. Some are freelance consultants who support our work out of a commitment to the historic environment, while others are simply enthusiasts.
We asked a few volunteers how they felt, and this is what they said about us.
“Although life events prevented my pursuing a further career in buildings archaeology, I never lost my interest. Helping out with the caseload allows me to indulge this interest and to contribute my data entry skills to an organisation whose work I fully support.” Ruth Soames
“It’s brilliant and fulfilling work: challenging, stimulating, inspiring, and thought-provoking… My rewards include “virtual travel” around the country to places both new and wellloved. I find out about heritage assets I’d otherwise not know of, and am able to reacquaint myself with delights from my youth like the West Country, as well as learning about all the redevelopment of brownfield sites in London’s docklands and central Birmingham – permanent changes to cityscapes.” Debby Klein
“Volunteering was, and remains, a great opportunity to broaden my experience of development and planning, whilst working with an organisation that champions and supports the diverse historic environment.” Esther Robinson Wild
“I have always had an interest in anything to do with history and archaeology. I find inputting into the casework system very satisfying, the system’s easy to use, and the backup I get from cba (Catherine and Alison) very helpful. I am learning so much about listed buildings. It has added so much interest to my life, seeing what people want to do to listed buildings, in some cases for the better and some not so.” Eileen Parker
Thank you to all our volunteers who support and contribute to cba casework. We couldn’t do our work without you.