Defining the purpose and vision

Devising a statement of purpose and vision for your collection will help focus your efforts. These should be approved by the governing body of the collection. 

Writing your statement of purpose 

Your purpose will help guide your collecting, how you plan and target your activities. It also sets parameters which aid decision making. 

Include in your purpose: 

• Why are you planning on maintaining the collection?
• What will it be used for?
• Who will be using it? 

A collection can be used in a variety of different ways, for example: 

• As a research resource 
• To create static onsite displays or a museum 
• As an outreach resource for events or displays 
• As a learning resource to support programme or training delivery 
• For digital engagement on social media, webpages or online exhibitions 
• To loan to other organisations 

The UK HQ Heritage Service statement of purpose is:
'Through an active and innovative programme of collecting, interpretation and engagement the Heritage Collection helps create connections between members of The Scouts; both past and present, and the wider community.'

Creating your vision

Your vision is a time bound statement of what you want to be doing by a set time. It draws upon your purpose but helps prioritise your activities within the defined time. It'll aid focus and support distribution of resources and effort. It should be revisited and reviewed regularly and updated as needed. 

The UK HQ Heritage Service’s vision is:
'Scout Heritage connects people with the Scouting experience both past and present. By 2023 we will be inspiring and engaging our users with amazing stories and through this process help them develop new skills and knowledge.'