Call for Case Studies: Heritage, History and Wellbeing in Scotland Demonstrator Programme
Historic Environment Scotland and the University of Birmingham are gathering examples of organisations, projects and individuals across Scotland using history and heritage, including intangible heritage, to improve people's wellbeing.

The University of Birmingham has been commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland to build a database of case studies to support Our Past, Our Future (Scotland's strategy for the historic environment) and demonstrate how the heritage sector contributes to Scotland's wider national priorities, including health and wellbeing.

Selected examples will be showcased on the Our Past, Our Future website, providing real-world evidence of the value of heritage to wellbeing for partners, policymakers, and funders.

We would value your input in helping us build a database that reflects the full breadth and diversity of heritage and wellbeing work across Scotland. Whatever shape your work takes - big or small, well-established or just starting out, backed by formal evaluation or anecdotal evidence (such as talking to your participants) that shows it's making a difference - we want to hear about it!

Any organisation, project, or individual working in or with Scotland's historic environment or heritage sector, including:
• Heritage sites, museums, and archives
• Community heritage groups and trusts
• Arts and culture organisations working with heritage themes
• Health, social care, or wellbeing services partnering with heritage projects
• Local authorities and place-based initiatives

We're especially interested in examples that show one or more of the below:
• Show a clear link between a heritage activity and a wellbeing outcome (e.g. reduced isolation, improved mental health, stronger community connection, increased sense of purpose or belonging)
• Include real people's experiences - quotes, stories, or reflections from participants where possible
• Can be illustrated with photographs (with permission to use them)
• Have tried to measure or evidence social value, wellbeing, or wider outcomes using a specific methodology or data collection approach — whether or not it worked as hoped. Understanding what's already been tried, and what you learned from it, is just as valuable to us as a polished success story!

Don't have a fully-formed case study yet? Tell us anyway!
We also want to hear from you if you believe your activity generates positive outcomes for wellbeing, even if you don't currently have evidence or a fully developed case study. Many organisations have anecdotal evidence of impact and that's valuable too.

We'll ask you to share
• A short description of your project or activity (what you did, where, who was involved)
• The wellbeing outcome or change you observed, and how you measured this (including any methodology or approach you used, even informally)
• Any supporting evidence, feedback, or quotes from those involved
• Photographs or other visual material, if available (please only submit images you have permission to share)
• Your organisation's/project's name and a contact person

How to submit
Online form: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bham/hes-heritage-and-wellbeing-i...

Deadline for submissions: 4th October
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Dr Amy Luck, University of Birmingham at a.luck.1@bham.ac.uk.

We look forward to hearing about your work!