Research

English Heritage is working hard to increase participation among under-represented groups. This includes people with limiting disability and illness, black and minority ethnic people and people from lower socio-economic groups. To find out more about participation in these groups, for the last four years, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has run the Taking Part survey in conjunctions with NDPBs. Taking Part is a national survey exploring participation in culture and sport among adults and young people 11-15 years old.

Data from Taking Part 2005-2007 showed that all of the groups mentioned above are less likely to visit heritage sites than the average; this includes people from lower socio-economic groups. Analysis from Taking Part also showed that people from lower socio-economic groups were less likely than people from higher socio-economic groups to have been taken to heritage sites as a child. Further analysis from the Centre for Economic and Business Research showed that the single most important factor impacting on participation as an adult is whether you were taken as a child. The Taking Part child survey also showed that young people from lower-socio economic groups are less likely than average to go to heritage sites outside of school visits. Lastly, in terms of motivation, when people from lower socio-economic groups visit heritage sites, they are more likely to do so because they are making the trip as a family, rather than for individual enjoyment.

All of this information combined indicates that developing a family friendly offer for lower socio-economic groups might not only increase participation now, but will increase participation in the future, as more children are taken to heritage sites, therefore encouraging participation as an adult.

English Heritage commissioned research to test this hypothesis, by taking 15 families round Bolsover Castle to find out more about their expectations and preconceptions of the heritage ‘offer’, their reasons for either engagement or non-attendance, and what they would like to see us providing in future.