Community Archives and Heritage Group Scotland marks 5 years of championing communities

1 July 2025

The Community Archives and Heritage Group Scotland (CAHG Scotland) is proud to mark its 5th anniversary this year, recognising half a decade of supporting, connecting, and inspiring Scotland’s community archive and heritage sector.

Since its formation in 2020, CAHG Scotland has played a vital role in empowering grassroots organisations, heritage groups, and a whole range of communities across Scotland to preserve and share their unique stories. From oral history projects to collections training, CAHG Scotland has championed the value and the importance of inclusive, community-led heritage.

Highlights from the past five years include:

Supporting dozens of community groups through advice, resources, and networking.
Hosting annual conferences and webinars on topics such as digital preservation, inclusive archiving, and intergenerational storytelling.
Advocating for better recognition and funding for community archives at national level.

Audrey Wilson, SCA Partnerships & Engagement Manager and CAHG Scotland Lead says:

“Over the past five years, CAHG Scotland has grown from a small idea into a vital network that connects and empowers communities across the country. What started as a grassroots initiative has become a movement- one that has not only inspired local groups from Shetland to the Borders, but has also sparked interest and collaboration well beyond Scotland, including as far afield as South Korea.

We’ve helped groups build skills and confidence through our Developing Your Digital Skills webinar series and our Connecting Communities conference on digital sustainability. Now, through our Collection Care programme and upcoming focus on intangible culture – like music, dance, storytelling, and traditional knowledge- we’re continuing to evolve.

As we mark this milestone, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together: stronger networks, more confident practitioners, and growing recognition of the value of community-led heritage. Our journey is just beginning, and I look forward to the next five years of collaboration, creativity, and shared stories”

Dr Valentina Bold, Heritage Manager Scottish Women’s Institutes and CAHG Scotland Committee Member noted:

“Community Archives are more than collections of documents. They are at the heart of Scotland’s social history: preserved because they matter locally, often used by people for whom they have very specific resonances. CAHG Scotland champions these collections in direct, and impactful ways – I am very grateful to the group for supporting my needs, relating to digitisation headaches as well as opportunities to network with like-minded community champions. Congratulations on this first 5 years, and looking forward to discovering what the future holds.”

To celebrate the 5 year milestone, CAHG Scotland will be bringing together partners, members, and supporters to reflect on the group’s achievements and look ahead to future initiatives through a range of activities including events, a publication and digital exhibition.

As CAHGS enters its next chapter, the group remains committed to promoting the importance of community-led heritage, ensuring Scotland’s diverse histories are preserved and celebrated for generations to come.

Find out more about CAHG Scotland.
Follow CAHGS on Bluesky & LinkedIn

Community Archives and Heritage Group Scotland marks 5 years of championing communities

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