The Heritage Hero Awards are a wider achievement award, designed exclusively for history, heritage, and archaeology projects. Breaking down barriers to participation in cultural heritage is something we’re really proud of at Archaeology Scotland, so the Awards are free and are designed to be accessible to all, regardless of age, academic ability, or background.
Projects can be based around any form of heritage. This can include buildings, museum collections, historic sites or digital collection and oral history projects. Our cultural heritage is everywhere and makes a great, as well as easily accessible, focus for classroom and outdoor learning.
Award Structure
The Awards are based on completing 5 project stages.
Plan – Be involved in planning the project, from the big ideas to the fine details
Investigate – Research and find out more about the heritage you want to engage with
Engage – Visit, explore and experience heritage. Get hands on, spend time on the site, or with the collection at the heart of the project
Inspire – Share what you’ve learned in an imaginative way and inspire others
Reflect – Identify the transferable skills you’ve developed through the project. Evaluate your own performance, what you have learnt and how you could use this going forward.
The project stages are the same for all Award levels– Explorer, Detective, Bronze, Silver, Gold; and all levels and stages are flexible, there’s no time limit for each stage.
Key Documents
Below you will find all the paperwork you need for the Awards, including a brief overview document, detailed handbook and project proposal forms, which act as application forms. You can also find case studies from some of our pilot groups to offer inspiration. On our Learning Resources page you will find our Archaeology Detectives resource, which can take you step by step through a project, and our Heritage Resources Portal provides more resources, as well as suggesting sites and organisations that can support the Awards. With a link to the Portal in the text ‘Heritage Resources Portal’. We are always happy to discuss the Awards and any plans you have, our contact details are below.
- The Heritage Hero Award Overview, explaining the key points and features of the Awards.
- The Heritage Hero Awards Handbook, giving full details of the Awards and how to take part.
- The Heritage Hero Awards: A Guide for Home Educators, further information for individuals, families and home education cooperatives.
Ready To Get Started?
To register your project, download a project outline form, complete side one and send it in to us to get it registered on our system.
- The Project outline form for Detective, Bronze, Silver and Gold Levels
- The Project outline form for Explorer Level
Once your projects complete send in side 2 with details of what you’ve done for each project stage alongside names and logos you’d like displayed on your Award and we can process your certificates.
Case Studies
For project inspiration check out the case studies provided by some of our Award partners.
Our friendly team are on hand and willing to provide training and support at any stage of your project. Email us at Awards@archaeologyscotland.org.uk or call us on 0300 012 9878 with any queries you might have, we’re happy to help.
You can also find us on Twitter @HHAwardScot
