Parish Centre, Cardinal Heenan Centre, 326 High Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 1QP
Tel 0208 553 3116, E-mail office@ech.org.uk, www.hidden-histories.org.uk
Application Pack:
Eastside Community Heritage; a brief outline
ECH has been working in east London for over 20 years, and during that time we have
become one of the nation’s leading community heritage organisations. We established
(with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund) the London People’s Archive, which
today contains over two thousand digitalised oral histories of Londoners.
Our mission is to uncover the histories of people which would otherwise permanently
be hidden from history; from working class communities, from the economically
disadvantaged, from immigrant communities and from disabled people. It is these
stories that Eastside has sought, discovered, recorded, exhibited and published,
highlighting their historical significance.
We persuade ordinary people that their stories are worth telling. We have completed
over a hundred large and small heritage projects with funding from the HLF, local
government, private companies, the charitable sector and others. Many of these have
been ground-breaking and have introduced themes which have been taken up by
others in the sector. Our greatest success in recent years was to initiate, secure funding
for and deliver the Working Lives of the Thames Gateway project, which recorded over
280 oral histories of those who worked in vanishing or disappeared industries in East
London and beyond. This four year project, which was completed in early 2011, was
widely praised. We are proud of our reputation in recording and celebrating the lives
and experiences of “ordinary people” which has been a key to our success.
Eastside’s other work has included; ground-breaking inter-generational and intercommunity work; development of volunteering programmes which often result in
volunteers moving on to a career in heritage; and, developing a Skills for the Future
programme which aims to increase the number of young people from diverse
communities in the heritage sector, where they are currently under-represented.
May 2015
Parish Centre, Cardinal Heenan Centre, 326 High Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 1QP
Tel 0208 553 3116, E-mail office@ech.org.uk, www.hidden-histories.org.uk
Community Heritage Leader Traineeship
Job Description
TITLE: Trainee Community Heritage Leader
REPORTS TO: Training Support Officer
Training Bursary value: £13,500 over 12 months
Hours: 35 hours per week for 1 year (52 weeks), Full time (Monday - Friday, 9.30 - 5.30
with a one hour lunch break)
Closing Date for applications: 5pm Friday 30th October 2015
Start Date: January 2016
Purpose of Post
The purpose of the traineeship, funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund Skills for the
Future programme, is to train suitable candidates in a broad range of Heritage skills
(including Oral History), management skills and project development, in order to be
able to progress into leadership roles within community organisations undertaking
heritage projects.
Context of the Post
The traineeship will be a combination of training, work experience and project
development and delivery. It will be supported by training days, assessments,
placements and support. It will involve working to a work plan, with communities,
individuals, and with archive and community organisations. It will involve developing,
fundraising for and delivering a personal project involving the management of
volunteers.
Training
Trainees will complete the accredited Level 3 Diploma in Cultural Heritage. In addition
they will also receive training in:
 Oral History

The Community Heritage sector

Multi media

Project management and implementation

Managing volunteers

Fundraising and budgets

Diversity
Key Areas
Parish Centre, Cardinal Heenan Centre, 326 High Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 1QP
Tel 0208 553 3116, E-mail office@ech.org.uk, www.hidden-histories.org.uk
1
To undertake accredited and non-accredited training as required, and complete
all assignments/assessment tasks set;
2
To work as part of the Eastside Community Heritage team, carrying out a range
of tasks relating to on-going work (collecting oral histories, transcribing, running
workshops, stalls and events, producing exhibitions, archiving material etc.)
3
To undertake a one month work placement in another heritage organisation
4
To become a member of another Community Heritage project’s management
board
5
To develop, fundraise for, lead and deliver a new heritage project, either as a
standalone or as part of an organisational programme
Responsible to
ECH Manager, Trainee Support Officer, Placement Supervisor
Duties and Responsibilities
1. To interview a broad range of participants using oral history and reminiscence
techniques
2. To organise and deliver reminiscence sessions in partnership with local
organisations
3. To identify, develop and recruit participants for projects
4. To recruit, retain and manage volunteers for projects
5. To digitise a range of historical materials
6. To work with archive materials
7. To initiate and develop exhibitions, publications, both physical and digital, and to
organise events and activities
8. To work with children, young people and other members of the public
9. To respond to enquiries for further information about local history and the
organisation
10. To research, develop, fundraise for and manage an individual heritage project
11. To research and become a board member of another community heritage
project
Parish Centre, Cardinal Heenan Centre, 326 High Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 1QP
Tel 0208 553 3116, E-mail office@ech.org.uk, www.hidden-histories.org.uk
12. To provide written reports and other materials as required to the Training
Support Officer and Eastside Board of Directors
13. To work in partnership with colleagues to develop and expand Eastside’s
services, activities and programmes
Team Work
1
Contribute towards an effective and supportive team environment;
2
Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure success
3
Attend team meetings and contribute relevant ideas;
General
1. To be a good ambassador for Eastside Community Heritage in dealing with the
public and partner organisations
2. To work within budget requirements
3. To work occasional evenings and weekends in response to local needs
4. To be familiar with and implement the organisations equal opportunities and
health and safety policies
5. To be aware of all emergency and fire evacuation procedures;
6. To be aware of sections 7 & 8 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974;
7. To undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required by the Eastside
Board of Directors and the Manager
Parish Centre, Cardinal Heenan Centre, 326 High Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 1QP
Tel 0208 553 3116, E-mail office@ech.org.uk, www.hidden-histories.org.uk
Person Specification -Trainee:
Essential
Desirable
Skills, aptitude, knowledge and
experience

 Good communication skills, both

written and verbal
Knowledge of historical methodology
Experience of managing a website

Familiarity with word processing and
design packages

An understanding of contemporary
multimedia technology

A strong interest, and some
understanding and knowledge of
relevant history

Experience of producing
publications/exhibitions or organising
events

An interest, and some knowledge of
industrial history and the
geographical area covered by project

Experience of volunteering either as a
manager or volunteer

Leadership skills

Team work skills

An interest in public history

An interest in, and commitment to
working with community groups/
organisations

Willingness to develop networking
skills
Personal qualities
 Motivated, out-going, self-starter

Ability to work on own initiative and
as part of a team

An undertaking and commitment to
working creatively to promote equal
opportunities.


Flexibility – occasionally working hours
might be changed

Qualifications

A good standard of literacy and

numeracy
Undergraduate degree is essential

Undergraduate degree is essential
Completion of accredited training in
heritage,
leadership,
volunteering,
Parish Centre, Cardinal Heenan Centre, 326 High Road, Ilford Essex, IG1 1QP
Tel 0208 553 3116, E-mail office@ech.org.uk, www.hidden-histories.org.uk

A positive approach to completing
relevant
short
courses
and
qualifications
community work or similar at level 3 or
above

Completion of relevant short courses
This post requires an Enhanced DBS and satisfactory references will be obtained prior to
commencement of employment.