Heritage Trust Network’s Digital Heroes project is connecting 18-30 year olds with heritage organisations across the UK to provide digital support for them to engage wider audiences, and secure the future of their heritage sites
Heritage Trust Network recruits, trains, and matches volunteer Digital Heroes with our members. Training materials have been developed in partnership with The Audience Agency.
The Digital Heroes will complete placements of at least 40 hours with the organisations they are matched with, supporting on tasks which might include updating websites, creating digital content, advising on social media campaigns, and devising digital fundraising or marketing strategies.
The project aims to support Young People to engage with heritage organisations and develop skills to support their future career.
Heroes will be given the opportunity to make connections with heritage organisations and develop valuable digital skills. Previous projects have included:
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- Revamping websites to help fundraising efforts,
- Creating digital fundraising strategies
- Advised on social media strategy
- Prepare activities to engage young people
- Updated organisations digital plan
- Set up databases to increase efficiency
- Create digital displays for use on website and the site
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Heroes will be supported by Heritage Trust Network throughout their volunteer placements, receive a year-long student membership, and will be offered free tickets to Heritage Trust Network Youth Forum events
Member organisations that host heroes will become more resilient and will be allowed to develop digital skills.
In 2021, the Network surveyed members and found:
- 69% of members did not use online video
- 62% hadn’t used podcasts
- 31% hadn’t used online tickets
- Many of the members didn’t even have a basic web presence, didn’t use online bookkeeping, had no online system for managing contacts /membership and did not use online fundraising.