In partnership with ChurchCare, the Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Church of England, the IHBC is running a series of sessions with staff in the Diocesan Advisory Committees (DACs) to raise awareness of how the IHBC can help in their conservation practice and careers and explain how to secure professional recognition for their special skills as members of the IHBC. The institute will also be offering reduced entry fees to promote access.
The initiative builds on the success of the IHBC’s Membership Application Support programme, led by the institute’s Learning Education Training & Standards (LETS) Liaison Officer Kate Kendall.
Kate and her colleagues have worked with Church Buildings Officer Christina Emerson to develop the events which will take place at the Regional DAC meetings. A series of six introductory sessions will take place across England from April to July, with more to follow after review by the partnership.
Kate said: ‘This is a great opportunity for the IHBC to work with the Church of England to enhance its already substantial infrastructure of skills supporting the care and conservation of its vast portfolio of historic buildings and properties. We’re delighted to be able to respond so proactively in this partnership initiative.’
‘The IHBC is particularly happy to be able to recognise the potential of the programme to promote corporate conservation standards and personal career prospects by offering to cover the administrative costs of any new members who join the institute as part of this initiative’.
Dr David Knight, Senior Church Buildings Officer, Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Church of England said: ‘Caring for so many of the nations listed buildings is both a great opportunity and a great responsibility for the Church of England.’
‘We are delighted to be working with the IHBC to encourage the professional development of diocesan staff who are at the front line of providing care and ensuring a sustainable future for our churches’.
In advance of the regional meetings, Kate and IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly have already outlined the IHBC’s conservation support for practitioners at the Diocese of Norwich’s recent Training Day for Architects and Surveyors, on Friday 15th April, organised by Matthew McDade, DAC secretary there. This too has been an opportunity to widen awareness of the IHBC’s benefits and standards, and strengthen the diversity of the institute’s membership.
Seán O’Reilly said: ‘The IHBC is very much looking forward to working with our partners on these introductory training sessions. We hope also to offer more substantial opportunities for skills support and development there too, inspired by our many conservation training and support initiatives, from our TeamStarter training programmes, for all staff in any relevant organisation, to our Conservation Course Connection Days and our Annual Schools’.
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For more on the IHBC’s support for Conservation Courses see the website
