Philip was employed by Braemar Castle to work as a Community History Research Leader on their Raising the Standard Project. In this blog, he explains the work he completed, the skills he gained and the influence it had on his career plans.
What was the aim of the project?
Braemar Castle is currently being restored and is due to open to the public again in 2024. Alongside the physical conservation works, the Raising the Standard project exists to transform the heritage of Braemar Castle and turn it into both an attractive tourist destination and a productive resource for Braemar and the surrounding region.
What was your role?
My role was to plan and conduct an oral history project and see this process through from start to finish over the course of five months.
What did this involve?
Conducting interviews with members of the community to gather stories of the castle’s heritage and its significance to the local community. I developed interview questions and other materials, as well as connecting with members of the community in preparation for interviewing.
I gained a wealth of experience including project delivery, safeguarding, data protection and confidentiality standards in community research. I was required to transcribe interview data and edit recordings for archiving and use in sound instillations. Throughout my internship I was contributing to the wider archival material of Braemar.
What was the highlight of your experience?
Getting the opportunity to speak with, and interview, a wide range of people who have lived fascinating lives. Once the new centre has opened, my work will form part of the exhibition, and I look forward to visiting and hearing the stories I collected.
What advice would you give to other students considering an internship or looking to volunteer in this area?
Go for it! It is a lot of hard work but hugely satisfying to see your completed work and know you have contributed to wider project which will have a significant impact on the community and beyond.
What skills has this experience helped you develop?
I developed high level of oral history skills in a short space of time thanks to an oral history training course I completed which was run by the University of Strathclyde. This experience also hugely enriched my networking and interpersonal skills.
Has this experience influenced you career plans?
Most definitely. Upon leaving university, I was largely unsure what job I would go into. I ended up getting a fixed term contract with the National Trust for Scotland at Culloden Battlefield. A full-time administrator job at the property came up and I applied for this. At my interview, this internship was a topic of interest, and I was given the job.
Upon acceptance of the role, I was told that the experience I gained from this internship played a huge part in me being offered the job. I have been in this job since the start of October 2023 and am thoroughly enjoying the responsibility given to me in the day-to-day running of the National Trust’s most profitable property.
