CIfA 2021 A Guide for Clients

30 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION OA East already had strong links with the local community. It helped to establish the Warboys Archaeology Group, a sub-group of the Warboys Local History Society, as part of the National Lottery Heritage Funded Jigsaw community archaeology project in 2011. During the three weeks of evaluation trenching in May 2019, nine members of the Warboys Archaeology Group took part alongside OA East’s professional team. Permission was granted by EDP and Bellway Homes, and OA East followed CIfA’s guidance on the use of volunteers and students on archaeological projects. In August 2019, OA East returned to excavate the site and 15 individuals volunteered over 200 days over a period of four months. EDP and Bellways gave support and PPE (hard hats and hi-vis vests) for the volunteers taking part. One of the volunteers was a locally based university student, looking for experience during a ‘sandwich’ placement year during their degree course at Bournemouth University, and is now employed by OA East following graduation. Some of the other volunteers were members of the Warboys Archaeology Group who had also taken part in the evaluation. The group also undertook a geophysical survey of a neighbouring sports field out of their own interest, borrowing geophysical survey equipment held by OA East as part of the Jigsaw community archaeology project. All those who completed a feedback form rated the experience as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ and said they would recommend it to others. Here is a selection of comments: ‘This was a great opportunity to work in Warboys and being involved led to a geophysical survey of the sports field which would just not have happened, but which has the potential to add to the village’s knowledge about its heritage.’ ‘Thank you and I very much appreciate the opportunity to carry on diggin’! Whilst this time of the year may not be the easiest weatherwise, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward in continuing my learning with OAE in the near future. Steve and his team have been very welcoming and helped whenever I’ve required any guidance – so a big thanks to them!’ A final team photograph with OA East archaeologists and volunteers in winter 2019 ©Oxford Archaeology Above and below: The site presentation event at Warboys Methodist Church in July 2019 ©Oxford Archaeology