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Digital heroes

Digital Heroes is an initiative to connect digitally savvy 18-30 year olds with heritage organisations across the UK to help them with their digital challenges.

Heritage Network recruits, trains, and matches volunteer Digital Heroes with our members. Self-guided training materials are available for Heroes originally developed in partnership with The Audience Agency. (external link) (opens in new tab)
The Digital Heroes will complete placements of at least 40 hours with their host organisations, supporting them with tasks such as updating websites, creating digital content, social media campaigns, digital fundraising or marketing strategies. Originally delivered as a stand-alone project with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Digital Heroes is now part of our mainstream activity.

Key contact

Phoebe Shanley

UK Heritage Trainee

Email:

phoebe@heritagenetwork.org.uk

What is Digital Heroes:

Digital Heroes connects young volunteers with heritage organisations across the UK to tackle online challenges. Through hands‑on placements, they help strengthen websites, social media, and fundraising so heritage can thrive in the digital age.

What organisations need to offer volunteers:

Host organisations play a vital role in making Digital Hero placements meaningful. Volunteers should be offered supportive guidance, reasonable projects that match their skills, and opportunities to contribute without being expected to take on work that would normally require paid staff. Placements should give Heroes the chance to build confidence and gain valuable experience while making a real difference to your organisation.
A close up of someone creating a video, including on screen captions, on their phone

The project aims to support Young People to engage with heritage organisations and develop skills to support their future career.

Heroes will be given the opportunity to expand their networks in the heritage sector and develop valuable digital and interpersonal skills. Previous projects have included:

  • Revamping websites
  • Creating digital fundraising strategies
  • Advising on social media strategy
  • Preparing digital activities to engage young people
  • Updating organisations' digital plan
  • Setting up databases to increase efficiency
  • Create digital displays for use at heritage sites

Heroes will be supported by Heritage Network throughout their volunteer placements, receive a year-long student membership and will be offered free tickets to Heritage Network Youth Forum events.

Apply to be a Hero (external link) (opens in new tab)

Host a Digital Hero

Empower your organisation by hosting a Digital Hero. Develop essential digital skills, enhance resilience, and create lasting impact for your heritage projects.

  • Skill Building
  • Community Growth
  • Increased Resilience
  • Digital Innovation
Apply as a host (external link)
A young person is showing a mobile phone to an older person who is pointing at the screen.

Our testimonials

The Castlemilk Hall SCIO was pleased to support the Digital Heroes initiative. We had become aware that our website needed a review with a fresh pair of eyes and someone who could advise and guide us to make our website more appealing and accessible. Although we did not make major changes, we did declutter the front page and have had positive feedback from our community.
Castlemilk Hall SCIODigital Hero Host organisation
The program was highly fulfilling. I never thought I would get the opportunity to help individuals who may typical struggle with aspects of digital literacy. The Digital Heroes Scheme has given me a new confidence in my digital capabilites and I would wholeheartedly recommend this to any early career professional.
Previous Digital Hero
The Digital Heroes scheme was thoroughly engaging. I was able to support Nottingham Building Preservation Trust (NBPT) with many aspects of their existing software. The project was varied and engaging and allowed me to up-skill my digital literacy and pass this on to members of the trust.
Previous Digital Hero
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