Bridport Area Development Trust

Oral History Project Coordinator Brief

  1. Introduction

This brief sets out the requirements for an Oral History Project Coordinator (‘the Consultant’) to manage and delivery the Oral history project as part of the programme of activities for the Bridport Literary and Scientific Institute Restoration Project, which will restore and bring back into community use the Bridport Literary and Scientific Institute (LSI). The project is being led and managed by the Bridport Area Development Trust (BADT).

The Consultant will be responsible co-ordinating the oral history project, recruitment and training of volunteers, sourcing participants, coordinating and overseeing recordings, editing and presenting recordings in a publicly accessible format, ensuring all activities are completed according to good practice guidelines, and undertake administration relating to the project. All work will be undertaken in consultation with the BADT, other consultants and specialists.

  1. Context

The Bridport Area Development Trust (BADT) is a charitable organisation, set up in 2009 with the aim of promoting and realising the transfer of ownership of community assets (land and buildings) for the benefit of the Bridport community.

The BADT has been successful in securing Heritage Lottery Funding for the project to restore Bridport Literary and Scientific Institute as a mixed use community building incorporating interpretational material on its history and wider historic context, and the history of the local rope and net industry. A full programme of interpretation activities has been developed for the project and the oral history project will be a key element of this.

  1. The Building

Built in 1833, the LSI was originally founded as a Mechanics Institute in 1834, set up to provide education for working men in local industry. In 1855 a new committee was formed, the ‘Literary and Scientific Institute’, and in 1864 the building was conveyed to the L&SI trustees to encourage “the intellectual and moral improvement of all classes and the cultivation of Literature, Science and Art.” In 1865 the Bridport School of Art was established, operating on the first floor of the building, where it developed to become one of the most successful art schools in the South West of England.

In more recent history, following a period of time when the building was requisitioned for war service, the Institute closed in 1950 and was re-opened as a Dorset County Council public library. The library relocated in 1997 and since then the building has been closed to the public.

Bridport Literary and Scientific Institute is a Grade II* Listed building, identified as a key building within the Bridport townscape conservation area. It has been on English Heritage’s At Risk Register since 2002.

  1. The Project

The project will save and restore the building, retaining it as a community asset in line with its original aims. It will help to revitalise the eastern end of the Town Centre and work with other organisations in the vicinity to develop that part of town as an attractive and vibrant cultural area.

There will be open public access to the most important areas of the building, which will incorporate areas of interpretation, offering people a chance to find out more about the history of the building and its links with the local rope and net industry. There will be a public programme of talks and events reflecting the building’s artistic, literary and scientific roots and space will be available for a wide range of community uses including formal and informal meetings, workshops and displays. In order to enable the building to operate without public subsidy, areas of the building will be available to small local businesses/enterprises and for education and training. A café will operate on the ground floor, servicing users of the building and the public.

The renovation of the building will create a modern work environment for skills and business development, alongside public, community and civic meeting space. The significance of the LSI and the town’s successful net and rope industry will be clearly reflected through interpretative material and interior design, which will demonstrate Bridport’s on-going technological and innovative advances in this sector.

5.Role of the Consultant

The Consultant will be responsible for delivery of the oral history element of the activities programme.

The Consultant will take specific responsibility for

  • Developing a project plan to ensure effective delivery of the oral history activities
  • Working with Bridport Museum to identifying existing relevant oral history material in their archives
  • Recruiting and training of volunteers to liaise with participants, record memories and ensure all paperwork is completed as appropriate
  • Sourcing participants and programming interviews to record memories
  • Ensuring documentation is completed and permissions signed for use of recordings
  • Formatting and editing recordings in format suitable for public presentation
  • Ensuring recordings are in a suitable format to be kept in the archives of Bridport Museum
  • Working with the Activities Coordinator to incorporate oral histories into the interpretation within the LSI.
  • Working with the Activities Coordinator to develop a temporary exhibition focussing on the memories recorded.
  • Liaising with the Activities Coordinator to evaluate the oral history project.
  1. Experience and Skills

ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Experience
  • Experience of working on oral history projects and interviewing techniques
  • Experience of project planning and management of heritage based projects
  • Experience of working for and reporting on publicly funded projects
  • Experience of working with volunteers, in a co-ordination role
/
  • Experience in marketing and publicity
  • Experience of evaluating similar projects and activities
  • Experience of delivering training
  • Experience of managing and monitoring project budgets

Knowledge and Skills
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification
  • Knowledge of relevant health & safety legislation and procedures
  • Computer literate with a basic understanding of using project management software
/
  • Knowledge of social and industrial history or other relevant heritage
  • Knowledge of the local area

Interpersonal Skills
  • A good team player but also able to work on own initiative
  • Possession of good planning, organising and problem solving skills
  • Capable of maintaining a high output of work and keeping to deadlines
  • Good communication skills
/
  • Adaptable and creative

Particular Circumstances
  • Flexibility and availability; able to respond to the requirements of Bridport Area Development Trust and other stakeholders and attend meetings in West Dorset

7. Timetable

The current timetable for the project is as follows:

  • Appointment of oral history coordinator February/March 2016
  • Completion of oral history recordings September 2016
  • Editing and production completed December 2016
  • Exhibition content and design January – March 2017

8.Contract

A total fee of £6,000 for the satisfactory completion of all work outlined in the brief. All submissions should be inclusive of expenses and subsistence.

The consultants will be responsible for ensuring their own health & safety and those they work with, complying with relevant legislation. The appointed consultant should have suitable public liability insurance (minimum £1million) and be DBS checked.

There is no holiday entitlement, pension scheme or other benefit associated with this appointment.

Payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of correct invoice. Fee payment will be staged in agreement with BADT.

9.Appointment process

If you are interested in working on this project, please submit a short proposal, which includes:

  • A full and concise CV
  • Details of how you would approach the work including proposed use of allocated time
  • The relevant experience you have of working with community groups and on this kind of project
  • Copy of your current CRB status/DBS status
  • Copy of your public liability insurance or letter of intention to obtain such insurance at the start of the project should you be successful (this will be checked following appointment)

The BADT will select the candidate who appears to be most suitable for appointment; The BADT’s decision is final. Enquiries into age, health and eligibility to work in the UK may be carried out, with other enquiries, including references, to ensure suitability for appointment.

We will select the candidate who appears to be most suitable; our decision is final.

Application in writing by Friday 19 February 2016 to:

Crystal Johnson, Activities Coordinator

Bridport Area Development Trust, c/o Mountfield, Rax Lane, Bridport DT6 3JP

Or email:

If you would like to discuss the projects in more detail please feel free to contact Crystal Johnson, Activities Coordinator on 07968 577867 or email