Charity and voluntary sector archives at risk: Conceptualising and contextualising a neglected archives sector

慈善机构和志愿组织的档案和记录是一种被忽视的资源。如果没有政府记录的法律保护，他们也缺乏保护其他私人收藏品的资源和网络。然而，这些档案有助于解释慈善机构对社会的意义，无论是过去的还是现在的。它们是机构身份和责任的来源，可以让被边缘化和处于不利地位的个人获得个人和集体记忆。这项研究借鉴了对慈善机构领导人的定性研究，探索了志愿部门的档案和记录管理实践。它将制定一项实际行动计划，以应对已确定的挑战，提出改善基础设施的建议，并为国家档案馆的战略愿景做出贡献。国家档案馆认识到，档案是为每个人服务的，因为它们关系到每个人--过去、现在和未来。志愿组织、活动机构和社区团体的档案和记录对这个故事至关重要，尤其是因为它们往往保存着被边缘化和被剥夺公民权的个人和社区的历史，他们的声音可能不会被听到。这包括英国的BAME社区；LGBT+个人和团体；残疾人或健康不佳者；以及因贫困和其他不平等而以各种方式被边缘化的社区。对公共、公司和慈善机构历史的高调调查突显了记录的证据价值。人们需要对机构的诚信有信心，组织需要公开和透明。对于志愿组织来说，开放档案是建立信任和改善对受益人、捐赠者和当地社区的问责的关键。通过他们的记录，他们可以让个人接触到个人记忆和社区遗产。档案既是了解过去的窗口，也为组织当前的活动和优先事项提供信息和支持。这些记录是至关重要的资产，对于研究人员--以及更广泛的公众--理解志愿组织对社会过去和现在的意义至关重要。然而，慈善档案长期以来一直不受关注，资源不足，因此面临风险。慈善档案得到国家档案馆部门发展部门的支持，但其工作将受益于对这一多样化部门更深入的循证知识，这将使国家档案馆能够优先处理关键问题和干预措施。这项研究既及时又具有原创性，与国家档案馆支持和发展该部门的战略目标直接相关。我们希望成功的学生候选人能够根据他们自己的研究兴趣来塑造这个项目，但指示性的研究问题是：1.我们如何绘制、概念化和解释整个英格兰志愿部门的档案和记录管理实践？这种多样化的档案格局是什么样子的？采取什么结构性方法来获取、保存和提供获取记录的途径？2.该部门面临的主要挑战是什么？这些挑战如何因慈善目的/部门、收入、人员编制、地理范围等因素而变化？3.志愿组织如何利用其档案和记录来解决当前组织优先事项或社会关切？如何支持他们这样做？4.国家档案馆部门发展部门可以为这个部门提供哪些进一步的支持？

The archives and records of charities and voluntary organisations constitute a neglected resource. Without the legal protection of government records, they also lack the resources and networks that protect other private collections. Yet these archives help explain the significance of charities to society, past and present. They are sources of institutional identity and accountability and can give marginalised and disadvantaged individuals access to personal and collective memories. Drawing on qualitative research with charity leaders, this study explores archives and records management practices across the voluntary sector. It will produce a practical action plan to address identified challenges, propose improvements to support infrastructure and contribute to The National Archives' strategic vision.The National Archives recognises archives are 'for everyone because they are about everyone - past, present and future'. The archives and records of voluntary organisations, campaigning bodies and community groups are central to this story, not least because they often preserve the histories of marginalised and disenfranchised individuals and communities whose voices can go unheard. This includes the UK's BAME communities; LGBT+ individuals and groups; people with disabilities or ill health; as well as communities marginalised in myriad ways through poverty and other inequalities. High-profile inquiries into the history of public, corporate and charitable bodies have highlighted the evidential value of records. People need to have confidence in the integrity of institutions and organisations need to be open and transparent. For voluntary organisations, opening archives is key to building trust and improving accountability to beneficiaries, donors, and local communities. Through their records they can give individuals access to personal memories and community heritage. As well as a window to the past, archives inform and support an organisation's present activities and priorities. These records are vital assets, essential for researchers - and the wider public - to understand the significance of voluntary organisations to society, past and present.However, charity archives have long been under the radar, under-resourced and consequently at risk. Charity archives are supported by The National Archives' Sector Development department, but its work would benefit from more in-depth evidence-based knowledge of this diverse sector which will enable The National Archives to prioritise key issues and interventions. This research is both timely and original, and links directly to The National Archives 'strategic objectives to support and develop the sector. We expect the successful student candidate to be able to mould the project to their own research interests, but indicative research questions are:1. How can we map, conceptualise and account for archives and records management practices across the voluntary sector in England? What does this diverse archive landscape look like? What structural approaches are taken to capture, preserve and provide access to records? 2. What are the key challenges facing the sector, and how do these vary by factors including charity purpose/subsector, income, staffing, geographical remit etc?3. In what ways do voluntary organisations draw on their archives and records to address current organisational priorities or societal concerns? How can they be supported to do so? 4. What further support can The National Archives' Sector Development department offer this sector?