SOUTH HOLLAND HERITAGE GROUP
Tues 1st October 2013, 2pm at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum, Spalding
Present:
Bobbie Ashton
Nick Casswell
Julia Gant
Julia Knight
Stan Pywell
Geoff Taylor
Gillian Wing
Long Sutton & District Civic Society and Sneath’s Mill
Spalding Gentlemen’s Society
4 and 20 Blackbirds
Ayscoughfee Hall Museum
Pinchbeck Marsh Engine Museum
Chain Bridge Forge
Strawberry Glass
Apologies:
Janet Prescott
Moulton Mill
1. Discussion about constitution of Heritage Group
 Much discussion about the future make up of the Group: 4 main work strands have been identified,
but it was agreed that initially the whole group will meet monthly to discuss progress. We can then
review the efficacy of the group, and the need/desire to hold targeted, focussed meetings.
2. Notes/report from last meeting
 All were in agreement that the notes formed a useful basis from which to go forward.
 The 4 strands identified were discussed, with particular emphasis on volunteers and funding.
3. Volunteers
 JK circulated details of workshops organised by Lincs CVS to be held as follows:
Grantham: Tuesday 22nd October, 10.00-12.00
Boston: Wednesday 23rd October 13.00-15.00
Spalding: Thursday 24th October, 10.00-12.00
Please see flyer attached to email.
 GW mentioned Caistor Arts & Heritage Centre who have a specific volunteer role to manage all of
their volunteers (http://www.28ploughhill.co.uk/) This may be a useful possible future venture for the
Group, in order to maximise the potential of their volunteers. JK agreed to contact the volunteer
manager to discuss the practicalities of such a role on behalf of the Group.
 GW also mentioned that South Lincs CVS hold a series of workshops relating to volunteers, some of
which are held in Spalding. JK agreed to contact CVS to find out more, also to enquire about the
possibility of procuring bespoke training for the Group in the future (subject to funding).
4. Funding
 GT has investigated the opportunities available for funding to support the further development of
the SH Heritage Group and suggests that a bid be submitted to Arts Council England for funding as
part of their Renaissance Strategic Support Fund. Information about this fund for 2014-2015 will be
published on 4th October, but it is likely that there is a short turn-around timescale for expressions
of interest. Further details will be circulated via email when more is known.
 Any bid to Arts Council England has to be submitted by an ACE Accredited Museum. At present,
the only member of the group with this status is Ayscoughfee Hall- both Chain Bridge Forge and
Spalding Gentlemen’s Society are working towards Accreditation. It was discussed and agreed that
any such bid for funding be submitted by Ayscoughfee Hall Museum, who will manage the budget
and relationship with ACE.
 Future funding bids may be reliant on the constitution and formalisation of the SH Heritage Group.
Discussions were held around the proposed structure of a constituted body/council, with the
following roles proposed:
Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Officer- Funding
Officer- Volunteers
Officer- Skills
Officer- Events/ Marketing
 Further discussion is needed about the establishment of the Group, and JK will invite Gill Williamson
from South Lincs CVS to the next meeting of the Group to discuss options for governance available
to the group.
 BA mentioned that the Charities Commission publish a proforma constitution on their website that
may be of use to the Group.
5. Skills
 It was agreed that a skills database for members of the Group would be useful to discover what we
deliver and support without requiring external input (with any associated cost implications). JK will
put together at a skills questionnaire to circulate to the Group.
6. Events/ Marketing
 Several sites have carried out audience research and development through various schemes, the
results of which may be of interest to the wider Group. If you have carried out such work and are
happy for it to be circulated amongst the Group, please forward to JK at Ayscoughfee who will
circulate.
 We discussed the possibility of a future regular networking event with members to welcome tourism
providers and people interested in heritage tourism to promote the Group and individual sites to as
many local people as possible. This would be an excellent (and very cheap) way of promoting each
site to B&Bs, businesses, etc. Further discussion is needed around time of year, location (e.g. just in
Spalding at Ayscoughfee or elsewhere within South Holland, etc)
 Chain Bridge Forge host a website called South Holland Life which hosts a vast amount of resources
from a variety of local sources. GT offered this site as a venue for information about the heritage
Group, as well as acting as a portal site to each individual website. There is also the possibility of
South Holland Life hosting a members only area for the Heritage Group for meeting minutes, etc.
 As a subsequent point we discussed the possibility of some social media training for the Group- it
may be that the skills to carry out such training are held within the Group, which will hopefully
become apparent from the skills audit.
 GT handed out cards from John Manghan at Visit Lincolnshire and reminded all that a listing on their
website is free and a great promotional tool. Please contact John Manghan directly for further details:
John Manghan, Business Development Manager john.manghan@l-p-l.com, 07860 772406.
7. Date of next meeting
 It was felt that it would be of use to plan a series of meetings at a time, which would hopefully ‘fix’
the dates in people’s diaries. It was suggested that either the first Monday or first Wednseday of
each month, at 2pm, at Ayscoughfee Hall, be the proposed regular time.
Please let Julia Knight at Ayscoughfee know which you would prefer by Friday 11th October.
 It was suggested that the Group meet as a whole for the first 6 months, namely October 2013 to
March 2014, after which time it may be that each ‘strand’ of work meets regularly, with less regular
meetings of the whole Group. This will be discussed further.
8. Any other business
 JK had a meeting with a representative from Springfields Outlet Centre on Tues 24th Sept regarding
their future plans for the ‘Fenscape’ building (now a craft shop). The current shop occupies the front
section of the building, with a large display space behind that Springfields are planning to convert into
an ‘Exhibition of Great Regional Attractions’. Four Attractions have been approached to take part:
Battle of Britain memorial Flight; Nene Vally Railway; RSPB Frampton Marsh Reserve and
Ayscoughfee Hall.
Springfields are willing to design, print and display images and text relating to Ayscoughfee Hall and
the history and heritage of the local area. JK mentioned the South Holland Heritage Group to the
Springfields representative, who was keen on promoting the Group and its member sites through this
new venture.
Further details, dates, etc are as yet unknown, but JK will circulate information as she receives it. In
the meantime, please provide JK with any printed publicity materials, and she will take them up to
Springfields for display in the new space.