Exploring heritage together: Veterans and Bangor University join forces

Dr Gary Robinson introduced the teaching areas and research strengths of the subject area and explored the many ways in which the group can become involved in the School, through both in-person and remote learning projects.

Dr Kate Waddington, Dr Leona Huey and Dr Karen Pollock talked about our two key community engagement projects – Llŷn Ecoamgueddfa and Project Dorothea – which will foster opportunities for the veterans to engage with heritage, language, and culture further and get involved in hands-on projects on the ground. The evening talks provided further discussion on future collaborations and learning opportunities. A Roman object handling session in the afternoon at Storiel introduced the group to the wide-ranging University collections that are used in teaching, and a tour of the University’s beautiful Memorial Arch was enjoyed by the group.

The event launched a new collaboration between the School and Alabaré, and it saw visits from notable guests; Alastair Carns DSO OBE MC MP, Minister for Veterans and People; James Phillips, Wales Veterans’ Commissioner; and Roxanne Brind from the Office for Veterans Affairs.

Mike, a former Alabaré resident, moved everyone with his heartfelt words, "Being here, with all of you, learning about heritage and connecting with this group—it's been incredible."

Dr Kate Waddington emphasised the power of public archaeology, "Our work has to be about making a real difference in people’s lives, bringing history to life, and making heritage accessible and impactful."

Minister Alastair Carns discussed efforts to improve veteran support across England and Wales, highlighting the importance of streamlined access to resources tailored to specific geographical needs, including those of female and minority veterans. He highlighted the goodwill within the veteran support network, noting, “With a billion pounds in funding and nearly 2,000 organisations supporting veterans, the challenge is how to ensure help actually reaches the people who need it most.”

Combining the expertise of staff at Bangor University with the dedication of staff at Alabaré and the commitment of government leaders, the partnership will work to create new opportunities for veterans to connect, learn, and thrive. The meeting was facilitated with the help of Simon Frith, Wellbeing Enterprise Manager at Alabaré', and Tim Jones, Bangor University Alumni, who made the initial contact.

Professor Peter Shapely, Head of School, commented, “This was a fantastic event. The veterans really enjoyed the two days. The School has a proud tradition of community engagement, and our Heritage and Archaeology colleagues have played a central role in delivering events over several years. We will now develop our partnership with Alalbare to help their excellent work by supporting the rehabilitation of military veterans through different learning opportunities.”