Project Update #6 18.DEC.2015
Partners Progress Meeting #2
The project held its second progress meeting for partners in Chippenham on 7th December 2015, with 13 in attendance and 8 different partner organisations represented. As usual, we had a lively discussion with lots of good ideas and questions and a consultation workshop to map out some of the project’s work in Spring, so thanks to all who could make it. The next progress meeting will be held in March 2016.
Map digitisation
ICAM Archive Systems Ltd have now completed the digitisation of maps across the region, with an estimated c.2700 ‘captures’ of approx. 1500 maps. They are finishing final preparation of files to share with the project in Spring 2016.
The British Library has partnered with National Library Scotland to supply all the OS, national grid, Goad and Town plan map series identified for the project. Again, these will be supplied to us throughout Spring 2016.
Historic Environment Record data
We have been pleased to consult with HER officers in the region.
A workshop in November proved very useful in identifying shared – and differing – approaches to what data will be publicised on Know Your Place to represent the Historic Environment Record.
We’re having follow-up conversations with HER officers to finalise the details of what data will be shared comprehensively across the region, as well as identifying where county data will be customised.
South Gloucestershire will ‘Go Live’ soon…
We have been doing the final caching and testing of data for South Gloucestershire on the Know Your Place website. A lot of this work is useful preparation for each of the other counties to be added to Know Your Place, and we’re almost ready to go. Watch this space in January.
Thank you for telling us what you think
Thanks to everyone who has completed the Know Your Place Survey. This ran for 6 weeks over November and December 2015 and the survey has now closed. We have gathered an impressive 271 responses which we will be reviewing over the holidays and sharing the results in our work in Spring 2016.
A word from our sponsors & partners
Six months into the project, we’ve been gathering feedback from our project partners, funders and website users and thought you might like to hear how they think we’re doing:
“your reporting has been really good to date and I feel like I know what is going on in the project” – Project Grants Officer, Heritage Lottery Fund
“on behalf of a ‘financial contributor’ I am impressed with how this is going with so much to do in a comparatively tight timescale” – representative of match-funding partner organisation
“It is great to see it being extended from just covering the City – keep up the good work!” – website user, via Know Your Place survey
Christmas Wishes from Know Your Place
We’ve been working hard over the last month to develop information to share with the public. As a sort of festive gift to you all, we’re pleased to announce the following project materials, which will appear in the New Year:
Project Website – with news, blog articles, a landing page for Know Your Place, navigation instructions and an online forum for project volunteers. This will become our main source of project updates where a monthly blog update will replace these round emails as our team of supporters grow.
Project Postcards – with introductory information about the project and how to contact us, to be circulated across the West of England. We will distribute these to main partner venues during our visits round the region in January, but if you would like some to distribute, let us know how many you’d like and we’ll arrange getting these to you.
And finally….
Thinking about your New Year’s Resolutions for 2016?
Consider volunteering for Know Your Place!
With the New Year approaching, many of us consider taking up new hobbies or resolving to do good through community or voluntary work. If this sounds familiar, then you might like consider volunteering for the Know Your Place project in 2016. We will have a number of volunteering opportunities available throughout the year – starting with computer-based work from home to crop and georeferenced maps.
Full support is provided and we have a number of training sessions in Spring. If you’d like to find out more, then please get in touch! Email: kypwestofengland@southglos.gov.uk
So it just remains for I and the team to wish you a very merry few weeks over Christmas and New Year. We look forward to being in touch again in January.
With season’s greetings,
Felicia Davies, Project Officer, Know Your Place – West of England.