Our Mission Statement

Ethos Heritage CIC empowers communities and individuals regardless of background to explore, understand, and take pride in their own past through inclusive, hands‑on archaeological projects and field‑school training.

We remove barriers to heritage participation, create meaningful learning opportunities, and strengthen community wellbeing by connecting people of all backgrounds with the stories that shape their local landscape.

Our Values

What we try and do: We recognise the complex responsibilities involved in delivering community‑based archaeological projects, and we approach this work through a lens of inclusion, competence, and genuine community partnership. These principles along with our wider organisational ethos —are intentionally developed, reinforced, and embedded throughout every project we run.

Our priority is to create safe, supportive spaces for all participants: This is regardless of socioeconomic background, gender or gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other factor that may have shaped their previous access to heritage.

We are committed to building an inclusive and welcoming environment that strengthens social integration and actively closes the disadvantage gap: More than that, we aim to advantage the historically disadvantaged by ensuring they have meaningful opportunities to engage with archaeology, heritage, and community learning.

By fostering an “all are welcome” culture and encouraging equal, respectful relationships, our team and participants work alongside local groups to shape projects collectively. Together, we agree the project’s focus, define its objectives, and develop a shared understanding of what each person hopes to gain from their experience.

What we hope this will achieve: This collaborative approach allows communities to explore their heritage as one team — learning, developing, and growing together

Who We Aspire To Be

Ethos Heritage CIC aspires to be a leading example of community‑centred, environmentally responsible, and socially inclusive archaeology. Our ambitions guide every project we deliver and shape the way we work with communities, partners, and participants.

Our Aspirations

• Create safe, stimulating, community‑driven archaeological projects We design projects where people feel welcome, supported, and empowered. Safety, wellbeing, and enjoyment are central to every activity, ensuring that participants of all ages and backgrounds can explore their heritage with confidence and curiosity.

• Meet archaeological best practice at all times Our work is grounded in professional standards, ethical practice, and robust methodology. We commit to delivering high‑quality archaeological investigation that respects the past, protects the present, and contributes meaningfully to future research.

• Provide high‑quality archaeological training as an integral part of our projects Learning is woven into everything we do. Through hands‑on training, expert guidance, and accessible teaching, we help individuals develop practical skills, deepen their understanding of archaeology, and build pathways into further study or careers.

• Encourage increased diversity within our projects and the wider heritage community We actively remove barriers to participation and create inclusive spaces where under‑represented groups feel valued and supported. Our aim is to broaden who gets to take part in heritage including staff, who feels ownership of it, and who sees themselves reflected within it.

• Become Carbon Neutral across all our projects We recognise our responsibility to the environment and commit to reducing our carbon footprint through sustainable planning, responsible resource use, and environmentally conscious fieldwork. Our goal is to deliver archaeology that protects both heritage and the planet.