Living History Interpreter at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre

Recruitment:

(Education Team)

Overview/Background

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre (BBHC) is an award winning visitor attraction at which visitors can re-live the turning point in British history of the death of King Richard III and the birth of the Tudor dynasty. The site is also the location of a Roman temple.

Located near Market Bosworth in Leicestershire the Heritage Centre attracts 48,000 visitors per year, of which approx. 7,500 are from schools and groups undertaking educational visits. For further information about the site and activities available to schools visit http://www.bosworthbattlefield.com/

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre is currently recruiting a living history interpreter to deliver the Archer’s Life, Soldier’s Life and Roman Day sessions as part of a group of contractors delivering high quality workshops and activities both on site and in schools.

Educational visits to Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre

An educational visit to Bosworth allows teachers to select activities from a menu that best supports the learning requirements of their pupils. A range of activities are available, including a number of living history interpreter led, museum educator led, guide-led and self-led sessions. Living history sessions teach the children about weaponry, armour, battle tactics, life on camp, the role of the barber surgeon and costumes from the late medieval and Roman periods. A well as delivering sessions on site we also deliver education sessions in schools and other venues as part of our outreach offer.

Educational visits on site take place from February to December inclusive (the site currently closes for a period of time during January each year). The outreach sessions take place January – December inclusive.

Visits are promoted, booked, organised and evaluated by BBHC staff and the Heritage Learning Officer (HLO). Further information is available at http://www.bosworthbattlefield.com/

Role of the Living History Interpreter

As a Living History provider at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre you would be part of a team of suppliers expected to deliver the following sessions on site at Bosworth Battlefield and in schools and other venues as part of the education programme:

Represent a male archer at Bosworth for the Archer’s Life session. The session would need to include elements of the following subjects, delivered in an engaging way: the construction of the longbow, bowstring and arrows (fletching), archery techniques and tactics, types of arrows, clothes worn by an archer in battle, feelings and rituals the night before battle, recruitment and pay and campaign life. The session must be delivered in accurate costume and ideally in character.
Represent a male soldier at Bosworth for the Soldier’s Life session. The session would need to make reference to the following subjects: the variety of 15^th century weapons from dagger to cannon, recruitment, pay, make up of an army, variety of armour, wounds and treatment, tactics (an opportunity for have a go bill drill or similar) campaign life, sieges, war horses, heraldry and battle communications. The session must be delivered in accurate costume and ideally in character. The site own wooden bills for use in this session.
Represent an early or late Roman male soldier to tell the military story as part of the full day Roman life session. The session should make reference to the following subjects: army recruitment and retirement, legionaries and auxiliary, kit and equipment, the army, officers and ranks, tactics and training (opportunity for foot drill or similar), forts and marching camps, punishment, enemies of Rome, army religion, health and hygiene and pay. The session must be delivered in accurate costume and ideally in character. The site owns plastic shields and helmets for the children’s use.

Provide curriculum linked lively, active and engaging living history demonstrations and activities.

Supply your own costumes and resources.

Work with BBHC staff to ensure a smooth and timely bookings process.

Work with BBHC staff to ensure a high quality, positive and enjoyable experience for educational groups visiting BBHC and for educational groups we visit off site.

Ensure all staff delivering sessions meet the standard required by BBHC e.g. making adjustments for SEN pupils and pupils with hearing, visual and physical disabilities.

Comply with all legislation relating to dealing with staff and members of the public, including other suppliers

Have an understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities

Provide your own transport to and from the Battlefield Heritage Centre (there is no public transport link to the site) and any outreach venues.

Undertake an advanced DBS check

Have public liability insurance cover for up to £10 million

Role of Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre Learning Team

It will be the responsibility of BBHC to:

Promote educational visits to schools
Provide up-to-date information to interpreters, relating to the National Curriculum and the requirements of schools undertaking a visit to BBHC
Agree session content and learning outcomes with the interpreters
Agree suitability of any session volunteers and monitor performance
Contact interpreters in good time to offer educational work at BBHC or in schools
Provide suitable and safe spaces (both inside and outdoors) for the delivery of sessions
Inform interpreter of any specific BBHC or learner requirements for each booking
Evaluate the school sessions

Skills and experience

As a Living History Interpreter you will have and provide evidence of:

Experience of providing curriculum-linked living history to diverse educational groups.
Proven track record of providing historically accurate workshops and activities
Proven track record of providing active and engaging workshops
Experience of working at heritage sites and in schools
Experience of working with a range of educational groups, including an understanding of SEN
Experience of partnership working
Proven knowledge of the role and associated subjects for delivery.

Payment

Payment is £2.25 per pupil for a 45 minute session and £2.75 for an extended one hour session. Payment will be made monthly in arrears via BACS.

How to apply

To apply please submit an expression of interest explaining how you meet the requirements of the role, and the skills and experience to:

melissa.lewis@leics.gov.uk

Melissa Lewis, Heritage Learning Officer

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Sutton Cheney, Nuneaton, United Kingdom, CV13 0AD

Expressions of interest should be submitted no later than 5.00 pm on the 18th April 2017

Interviews will take place at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, CV13 0AD on the 21 April 2017. If you cannot make this date please let us know when you send through your application so that we can arrange a suitable date/time.

NB: there is no public transport to the Centre, so your own transport is essential.

Please provide details of two referees, indicating whether or not we are able to contact them prior to the informal discussion.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact either:

Melissa Lewis, Heritage Learning Officer

Tel: 0116 305172 e-mail: melissa.lewis@leics.gov.uk

Richard Knox, Heritage Development Manager

Tel: 0116 305 305 2180 e-mail: richard.knox@leics.gov.uk