The Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) is co-ordinated by the Council for British Archaeology (CBA). It comprises a growing network of local hands-on YAC branches across the UK, where young people aged 8–16 can get involved in practical archaeology. You can see a map of our current YAC branches on our interactive map.

The CBA provides all YAC branches (CBA-managed and affiliate) with:

• A listing on the YAC website, including your own webpages to update
• Use of the Council for British Archaeology and Young Archaeologists’ Club names, logos and marketing materials
• A dedicated area of our website which includes guidance on running your YAC branch and more than 100 activity ideas (see Run a club)
• Training and resources to inspire your YAC sessions
• A regular Leaders’ e-Newsletter
• Networking with other branches via a Facebook group and email update

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Setting up a CBA-Managed YAC branch: an overview

CBA-managed branches are run by volunteers. They are provided with insurance, child protection support, First Aid training, volunteer recruitment processes, and other support by the CBA. Responsibility for a CBA-managed YAC branch ultimately lies with the Council for British Archaeology. 

CBA-managed YAC branches are also provided with: 

• Public and Employer’s Liability Insurance 
• Guidance to ensure child protection and health and safety law is met 
• Safe recruitment procedures: administering volunteer application forms, criminal record disclosures, and references 
• Designated Safeguarding Lead available 24/7 
• Child protection and First Aid training 

Before beginning an application to set up a new YAC branch, please read the rest of the information on this page and in the Run a club area of the website. This should give you a good idea of what’s involved in running a YAC branch and will hopefully answer any questions that you have at this stage. We also recommend that you contact YAC HQ to talk through your plans.

What information will I need to supply?

In order to progress a YAC branch application to our approval panel, the following documents will be requested:

• CBA-Managed YAC Branch Application Form
• Contact details for two points of contact
• Venue Risk Assessment 
• A risk assessment for an example of a YAC session you hope to deliver
• The branch leaders and assistant leaders of a CBA-managed YAC branch are also required to complete volunteer applications and DBS checks through the CBA. The CBA will send you the volunteer application form one your branch application is submitted along with information about how it will be processed.

YAC HQ can help you with questions about any part of the process or the documents needed.

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Setting up an Affiliate YAC branch: an overview

Affiliated YAC branches are run by a range of organisations such as museums, heritage sites and organisations, schools and universities, and local councils.

Some affiliated branches are run by paid members of staff as part of their job. Affiliated YAC branches provide their own insurance, child protection, and health and safety systems to ensure that their YAC is run safely. Ultimately, the educational provider running an affiliated branch is responsible for the affairs of the branch and would be liable in the very unlikely event that anything goes wrong. Affiliated branches are also responsible for managing the adults involved with their club, including any volunteers.

Before beginning an application to set up a new YAC branch, please read the rest of the information on this page and in the Run a club area of the website. This should give you a good idea of what’s involved in running a YAC branch and will hopefully answer any questions that you have at this stage. We also recommend that you contact YAC HQ to talk through your plans.

What information will I need to supply?

In order to progress an affiliate YAC branch application to the approval panel, the following documents will be requested:

• Affiliate YAC Branch Application Form 
• Contact details for two points of contact
• Signed Memorandum of Agreement
• Venue Risk Assessment 
• Example risk assessment of a YAC session you hope to deliver
• Insurance Documents 
• Child Protection and Health & Safety policies 
• Evidence of Disclosure Checks 
• Evidence of First Aid Training 

YAC HQ can help you with questions about any part of the process or the documents needed.

Putting your team together

It is recommended that each YAC branch has at least three adults involved in running the branch.

Each member of your branch team will probably spend between five and ten hours a month assisting with the running and delivery of your branch. Obviously, the more adults involved in your branch, the better the workload will be spread. You might like to think about assigning different roles across your team; for example, membership secretary, or treasurer. We ask that all branches nominate two points of contact to liaise with CBA staff, one of whom should be your YAC Branch Leader.

You may find it helpful to read the role descriptions for YAC Leaders and Assistants at CBA managed YAC branches.

Your venue

You will need to provide a risk assessment for the venue in which your YAC branch will be based (but do not be afraid to also arrange visits and trips!).

The venue risk assessment should be reviewed and updated regularly and a copy sent to the CBA after any significant changes. Details of how to write a risk assessment and templates are available in the ‘Run a club’ section of the website.

Managing your YAC branch

The ‘Club admin’ section of the website includes information about how to run your YAC, planning safe activities, safeguarding children and volunteering.

There are template forms available – including a membership form – in the Leaders’ Area of the YAC website (see www.yac–uk.org/paperwork). You may choose to use any of these documents that will help you to manage your branch. However, you should use your own organisation’s reporting forms for accidents, incidents etc., as your branch will be following your school’s procedures for these occurrences, rather than the CBA’s.

As well as running sessions, each branch is asked to complete an Annual Survey and Census online at the end of the financial year. We also encourage branches to run fundraising activities during the year as part of their branch activities. This can be for your branches funds or to help support YAC HQ.

Training

Before your application to become a new YAC branch is complete, we will make sure that your YAC team is properly trained. For CBA-managed branches, we can provide First Aid training and Child Protection training for up to two members of your team before your branch begins meeting. Established CBA-managed YAC branches can sometimes access additional First Aid and Child Protection training for other members of their team. This is organised and paid for by the CBA.

The CBA does not provide child protection or First Aid training to affiliate branches; this should be provided by your organisation.

Subject to funding, the CBA does provide a variety of free practical training opportunities for adults involved in running YAC branches. These give you the chance to meet other adults involved in YAC and get new ideas for your YAC sessions. In the past, these events have covered themes such as experimental archaeology, coastal archaeology, food and diet, and historic crafts.

Promoting your YAC branch

Once you have received written confirmation from the CBA that your application is complete, you may begin promoting your new YAC branch. You must use the CBA and YAC logos on any written or digital material. We can provide poster templates that you can personalise with information about your branch, and we will also promote your branch on our website and social media.