Celebrating Completion of First Wellbeing Through Archaeology Programme Cohort

There’s a particular kind of quiet focus that comes with uncovering something long hidden. A careful brushing away of soil. A pause to look closer. The steady work of piecing together what was once there.

For a group of women connected to the Armed Forces community, that process has come to mean something more.

At Newbattle Abbey College, participants, friends and family recently gathered to mark the completion of the first cohort of Wellbeing Through Archaeology — a pilot programme developed by Archaeology Scotland. What began as a series of weekly sessions has grown into something deeper: a shared experience of learning, connection, and rediscovery.

Funded by the Veterans Foundation, the programme was designed in response to a gap — recognising that women within the Armed Forces community are often underrepresented, despite their varied and significant experiences.

Rather than focusing on traditional support models, Wellbeing Through Archaeology takes a different approach. It uses heritage as a starting point — not simply to explore the past, but to create space in the present.

Sessions are deliberately paced. There is no pressure to have prior knowledge, no expectation to perform. Led by a professional archaeologist and supported by trained volunteers, participants are invited to engage in a way that feels comfortable to them — whether that’s through discussion, observation, or practical work.

From the outset, the programme builds a sense of shared understanding. The opening session welcomes not just participants, but those close to them — creating a wider circle of support. Early activities, including a gentle ‘archaeo-wellness walk’ through the college grounds, encourage conversation and reflection, allowing relationships to form naturally.

What followed was shaped by the group itself.

A defining feature of the programme is its co-design model, with participants actively influencing the direction of their work. For this first cohort, that meant focusing on the remains of three interconnected World War II camp buildings near the former parade ground — a site layered with history, and close to the experiences many brought with them.

Working together, the group explored historic maps and documentary sources, gradually building confidence in archaeological recording techniques. Over time, the site became more than a subject of study. It became a shared project — one that combined curiosity, collaboration, and a growing sense of ownership.

Their work will now form part of a permanent archive, through the creation of an enhanced gazetteer entry — a lasting contribution that ensures their efforts are recognised beyond the life of the programme.

But the legacy is not only recorded on paper.

Participants spoke about the value of being part of something collective — of having space to learn, to connect, and to contribute. There was also a strong sense that their work should be shared more widely, reflecting a quiet confidence in what they had achieved together.

What made the biggest difference? “connections, with people, nature and the environment, being able to bring my hound along.”

I’ve learnt “it’s ok to be vulnerable, to be yourself. not fear judgement”

The event at Newbattle Abbey marked the end of this first cohort, but it was not an ending.

With further funding secured from the Scottish Veterans Fund, a new group will begin in May — building on what has already been learned, and expanding the reach of the programme.

Wellbeing Through Archaeology shows what can happen when heritage is approached not just as a subject, but as a tool. Not simply for discovery, but for care. For connection. For rebuilding confidence, piece by piece.

And sometimes, that process starts with something as simple as looking a little closer at what lies beneath.

Interested in taking part in the next cohort?

The next cohort of Wellbeing Through Archaeology begins on 11 May 2026.
To register your interest, please complete the form here