Julia Holberry Associates wrote the Activity Plan for Dorset History Centre’s Home and Abroad project.

Julia Holberry Associates worked with Dorset County Council’s Dorset History Centre on a project to make the remarkable Bankes family archive accessible to the public. We undertook consultation with the partners, stakeholders, staff and volunteers to gather information about the strengths, challenges and opportunities for the project. We held focus groups with non-users and community groups and also consulted with primary and secondary schools, local universities and colleges. This was complemented by an online survey to test user opinion about the project.

The archive will be displayed across the County, but there is a strong digital strand to the project with a website that will have a catalogue, an online exhibition, e-learning resources, interactive areas and a set of downloadable trails that will take visitors on cycling and walking tours across the historic estate.

The Activity Plan also included a Volunteering Plan, Training Plan and Evaluation Framework.

Dorset History Centre was awarded £297,000 in June 2015.