Erasmus+ Exchange Programme Launch

From 14-16 June 2022, a group of INTO members met in England, to launch an exciting new European exchange programme.

We brought together representatives of the Czech National Trust, Herita in Flanders, National Trust for Scotland, FAI Fondo Ambiente Italiano and the National Trust of Slovakia with National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland colleagues to begin our Erasmus+ funded SEECHT Project.

The programme included site visits to Polesden Lacey and Hatchlands Park in Surrey.  National Trust managers briefed us on aspects of the visitor business relevant to the SEECHT project, such as visitor welcome, volunteering and membership.

Improving access

Tiger de Souza, People Engagement Director, gave a fascinating insight into the National Trust’s strategic priorities of inclusion, diversity and access.  In a facilitated discussion, we considered how to extend access to the widest possible demographic, improving accessibility for people living with disabilities and the sort of programmes and activities we can implement to make our places relevant to people from all backgrounds.

The meeting was also an opportunity to set up the first phase of the project and finalise arrangements for the all-important secondments.

The SEECHT project (Staff Exchange in European Cultural Heritage Trusts), offers staff and volunteers at INTO member organisations the opportunity to undertake mini-secondments with other Trusts in the network.

In a complex matrix that criss-crosses Europe, this series of staff exchanges will enable knowledge-sharing and the development of new strategies. Participants will then deliver pilot projects at their sites, that broaden access to their places.

New toolkit

At the end of the project, we will create a toolkit capturing the learning and case studies.

SEECHT is led by the Czech National Trust, working closely with INTO and partner organisations Herita in Flanders, National Trust for Scotland, National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, FAI Fondo Ambiente Italiano and the National Trust of Slovakia.

Learn about Erasmus+