Crowdfunding

This project was started by a group of people banding together, with only their own resources, to explore the archaeology of their area. We are currently holding the status of an unincorporated organisation but we seek to establish ourselves as a sustainable field school in the area. This month we launched our crowdfunding campaign at our first public lecture, which was held at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery. We hoped to show the wider public what we intended to do with their support. Community engagement and sustainability is high on our priorities and one of the objectives of our event was to highlight our fundraising aims. Our event also allowed us to show to the wider public what we have discovered over the summer.

SHAAS was lucky to secure a grant from the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee soon after being established. This grant of £1000 awarded to us the project is in a draw-down capacity which means that the funding is received gradually. SHAAS are extremely grateful to the support shown by the High Weald Joint Commission but the reality is that most of the costs at present are being covered by its core members. We have launched this crowdfunding campaign to raise the funds needed to keep the project going at this critical preliminary stage. 

Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a larger number of people, typically via the internet. Kickstarter is one of the leading established benefit corporations which provide a platform for fundraisers. Click here to view our Kickstarter campaign.                  


                
Why we need your support.

Our tool shed is more akin to something found on an allotment. We need to purchase adequate tools so that our members can carry out their work efficiently and concentrate on learning about archaeology. In order for us to run a sustainable service to our members, ranging from age 7 – 70, we must install the proper amenities on our site. We need the financial support to bring our site up to acceptable standards. Developing a field school in the local area will enable people learn the skills needed to pursue a career in archaeology. We intend to publish our findings in academic papers in the hope our research will extend the archaeological record of Kent. We will undoubtedly have to pay for publishing our work, which means we will have to allocate funds to a printing budget. Printing educational material will be a weekly running cost which will eat into the printing budget.

We will continue to sustain a strong link with those who back us, contacting with them via our newsletter, emails, website, and via special events. We count on community support, to return this goodwill we will update the developments unfolding on the community's door step. 

Even a small contribution of £5 will help us along our path to becoming a sustainable enterprise. People who back our Kickstarter campaign will receive a tangible reward along with a one of a kind experience in exchange for their pledge! Click here to find out more about the rewards for lending support.

Please follow the link below to find out more about our Kickstarter campaign:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1013766396/southborough-valley-archaeology-project