Wednesday, 29 July 2026
The project, a pioneering collaboration between the 海角黑料's Centre for the Study of the Viking Age (CSVA) and (DSA), has been awarded a prestigious 2026 Award for its outstanding contribution to community engagement and heritage education.
The Community Archaeology Project of the Year Award celebrates the project's innovative approach to bringing cutting-edge Viking Age research to young people across the East Midlands, inspiring Scouts to explore how archaeology helps uncover the lasting impact of the Vikings on the towns, communities and landscapes they know today. The award is accompanied by a £1,000 grant which will be used to fund future project activities.
Led by Dr Kate Olley and Dr Rebecca Gregory in the School of English, the Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) project, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), equips young people with the skills and confidence to investigate the past while developing a deeper understanding of the region's rich Viking heritage.
Developed through a close partnership between academic researchers and Scout volunteers, Vikings for Scouts combines research-informed educational resources, outreach training for adult volunteers, and engaging, hands-on activities designed specifically for Scouts.
I鈥檓 so incredibly proud of the entire Vikings for Scouts Team. The project鈥檚 success was due to the hard work of so many partners, particularly Derbyshire Scout Archaeology, who were a pleasure to work with, but also our fantastic student helpers, who designed activities and supported events, and colleagues in the Archaeology department and at the University鈥檚 Museum of Archaeology, who contributed tours and object handling sessions."
“It’s wonderful to think we’ve helped to inspire more young people to explore archaeology and Viking heritage, and we look forward to using the award money to grow our collaboration with the Derbyshire Scouts in the future.”
The Vikings for Scouts team give the scout salute (from left: Morgause Lomas, Dr Kate Olley, Dr Rebecca Gregory, Emma Horne, Ben Marshall)
Image credit: John Gregory
The Community Archaeology Project of the Year Award recognises the success of the partnership in fostering curiosity, encouraging exploration and strengthening connections between academic research and local communities. Through activities that bring Viking archaeology to life, the project has enabled Scouts to discover how evidence from the Viking Age continues to shape the places where they live today.
We鈥檙e so grateful to Dr Kate Olley, Dr Rebecca Gregory and the whole team at the Centre for the Study of Viking Age for collaborating with us on this project. Without them we wouldn鈥檛 have been able to offer a huge library of resources, and engage as many Scouts and Scout Leaders as we did. "
“It’s so important to share Archaeology with young people, so that they can become its future custodians and to be able to do that with a fan favourite topic of the Vikings was just awesome. Importantly for us it also raised awareness of the Viking’s elaborate role within Derbyshire heritage specifically, as we find it crucial to connect young people with their local heritage as well as the wider world. We can’t wait to continue our work with the CSVA.”
The recognition highlights the value of collaborative public engagement projects that combine academic expertise with community knowledge to create lasting educational impact. As Vikings for Scouts continues to grow, the partnership aims to inspire even more young people to explore archaeology, history and heritage through hands-on discovery and investigation.
The Council for British Archaeology partners with the Marsh Charitable Trust to deliver the Marsh Community Archaeology Awards. The Trust supports organisations and people who make a difference within the charity sector.
The awards showcase excellence in archaeology, celebrating the passion and dedication of individuals and the outstanding contribution of archaeology projects that create social, cultural, and environmental benefit.
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Kate Olley, via kate.olley@nottingham.ac.uk
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