Impact Heritage Interns
We asked our interns how their project went,
Here's what they said!
Has the project changed your approach as a conservator?
Samantha Hare - Charterhouse Cabinet Collection, 2022
Yes, it gave me such a clear view of how to treat and improve a collection as a whole. It also gave me a great framework of how to manage a project - from funding, deadlines, materials, stakeholders etc. Also learning from Ann-Marie was invaluable, her huge wealth of experience with similar projects was so useful and her approach and encouragement has shaped who I am as a conservator.
Did the internship help you find work?
Eleanor Smith - John James Morris Cornish Diaries, 2023
Yes. In particular this project proved to be a very effective centrepiece of my portfolio, and proved a very useful experience to draw upon when answering questions in job applications and interviews. For example, during my interview for my fellowship at the Bodleian Libraries, I was asked to present on a conservation project I had undertaken. I presented on this project, which I believe (given that that rest of the interview was very brief) was central to my being successful in securing this post-graduate position, which then led to my current position.
Did the internship match your expectations?
Melissa Nadarajan - John James Morris Cornish Diaries, 2023
This internship went beyond my expectations. I feel like I was really able to help shape the project’s planning, and that my work had a very tangible impact on the outcome of the project.
What was the most important thing you learnt on your internship?
Molly Lucas - Stewart Fleming Primary School Architectural Plans & Logbook, 2025
I learnt how to improve my time management and ways to keep a good timing pace when I’m doing treatments on an object.
Kate Kemp - Dacorum Heritage Trust Ovaltine Archive, 2026
How to plan out a conservation project within budget constraints.
Impact Heritage & Dacorum Heritage Trust Work Placement
Well Done Katherine!
Good luck with the project and welcome to the
Impact Heritage fold.
Over the next few months Katherine will be updating on our social media about her intern journey.
Molly's Progress
Our intern Molly is working away on the map of the Stewart Fleming Primary School - check out her progress so far in our Instagram post.
She has really had her work cutout with this sticky beast of a map and is doing great work stabilizing it and preparing it for the future.
The Cornish Diaries
We completed the Cornish Diaries Conservation Project on time and on budget - delivering them safe and sound to Kresen Kernow (National Archive of Cornwall) in August 2023. They are now available for anyone to see in person.
Eleanor and Melissa gave a presentation to a large group of volunteers and friends of the project explaining all the detailed work involved in conserving these precious albums.
Well done to everyone who helped, from the couriers to the fundraisers and volunteers who gave their precious time to keep the project alive. Thanks also to our funders - The National Manuscript Conservation Trust, we are so grateful for their generosity.
The Curious Cabinet Project - Working with the Charterhouse Museum
We have now finished working on an Arts Council funded project with the Charterhouse Museum. The last few months have seen enormous changes in the collection of prayer books and Bibles that we have been working on. Every book has been assessed, cleaned and boxed and the whole space cleaned up and readied for the future. We have worked alongside staff, residents and volunteers in the community events and sparked some amazing inspiration in the Creative Writes online workshops and visits. Some of the worst damaged books were treated in the Codex Conservation workshop in London. Sam has made some videos with ACAP Media about their conservation journey. These are available in the "services" sections.
Follow our work on @CICImpact & impactheritagecic on Instagram
Community Outreach Event
Meet Sam, Ann-Marie, Gabby, Nichola & Jack and some of the other incredible people that we have been working with. What an great team!
Jo Poland
Talks about finding the
John James Morris Diaries
Out on a walk one day our heroine Jo makes an important find.
These diaries cover 68 years of Cornish life written by one man -
John James Morris. We have helped Jo and the volunteer team to apply for a grant from the National Manuscript Conservation Trust to preserve these journals for all to enjoy.
We believe that archive collections, big and small, are the very stuff that communities are made of.
We are a team of professional conservators who want to help all kinds of communities to care for their collections and access the resources they need.
Have you got an archive that needs help?
