Working with communities to connect with your heritage

Public benefit is at the heart of all our work at Oxford Archaeology. It is important to us to foster an appreciation for the past, make it meaningful to people’s lives today, and ensure it is accessible to everyone - now and forever. We offer a wide range of services and activities to commercial clients, project partners, community groups, educational providers and curious individuals. Our Community Engagement and Social Value team has a wealth of experience and passion to help bring archaeological discoveries and your ideas to life. 

Image of Community Archaeology Manager Ayesha Purcell on a site visit

Supporting and empowering communities to explore archaeology is, for me, the most rewarding part of being an archaeologist. Through our work we partner with local residents and stakeholder organisations to both uncover new heritage stories, and draw on the past to imagine and create better futures for the communities of today and tomorrow.

Ayesha Purcell, Community Engagement and Social Value Manager

Ayesha sets OA's strategy for public engagement and oversees the organisation's many initiatives.

Happy archaeologist dressed in orange PPE.

I have always been fascinated by our shared past and it is a joy to be able to share that with others. To bring the stories of our local places to life, to build relationships with communities, to innovate and inspire the next generation.

Jessica Elleray, Community Engagement and Social Value Officer

Jessica works to deliver our public engagement initiatives and to help maximise the social value of our projects.