The Heritage Hub User Group

What is it, and What Does it Do?

The Heritage Hub User Group (HHUG) was set up in February 2019 replacing the former customer focus group . It is currently made up of eight people – two members of staff from Gloucestershire Archives, plus members of on-site partners and people representing various groups who use the Heritage Hub..

The HHUG meets every quarter, and is chaired by Gloucestershire Archives’ Community Heritage Development Manager. Minutes are taken and made available to all.

It acts as a forum for raising any concerns about matters affecting the Heritage Hub, and finding solutions to these. Members representing customers and partners make suggestions and look at any customer service type issues. It is also a vehicle for sharing information and updates about anything affecting the Heritage Hub.

Recent agenda items have included amongst others: updates on progress to create a community garden; briefings on findings from the annual customer survey; briefings on how Gloucestershire Archives is increasingly working with children and young people; plans to introduce a new, and improved, online catalogue; the benefits for partners of using social media platforms and a proposal for creating a folder, to be kept available in the coffee lounge, about the work of the HHUG and a page or two about each on-site partner, as well as some information on volunteering. Production of this folder is currently in hand and will include copies of the minutes of the group's meetings in future.  The group has already seen some of its suggestions put into practice, such as removing back issues of local history journals from the Frith Room to the Hockaday Room allowing for improved access.

Members of the HHUG are not voted on to the group. Members of the former customer focus group were initially asked to participate; many of them agreed to do this. On-site partners were each invited to join the group, as well as others representing customers, and volunteers. In other words, anyone who uses the facilities or services at the Heritage Hub is able to join.

Gloucestershire Archives would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who participate as members of the Heritage Hub User Group. The group makes an important contribution to the smooth running of the Heritage Hub.

Sally Middleton – Community Heritage Development Manager.