Achievements
Since its beginnings in 1988, the NCA has been responsible for developing and delivering a number of key objectives for archives. These include (in chronological order):
Contributing to the shaping of the agenda for the future development of UK archives services, particularly through the publication of British Archives: The Way Forward, which provided a blueprint for development from 1999-2004. This blueprint was endorsed and supported by the Trustees of the Heritage Lottery Fund;
As a member of the Inter-departmental Archives Committee, the NCA helped to shape the Government Policy on Archives (1999) and its Action Plan 2002. The NCA was charged with the delivery of 15 of the 50 targets in the Action Plan.
Created the Archive Lottery Advisory Service, which has helped to secure over £55m of lottery funding for archives from 1997-2006.
Played a leading role in the foundation of the National Archives Network, not least through the publication of Archives On-line, which set out a vision for a single gateway to all archival catalogues in the UK.
Responded to the government's regional agenda by creating the network of English Regional Archive Councils, at the behest of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, in 1999. These Councils have played a crucial role in providing archives with a regional voice. The NCA seized the opportunities created by the establishment of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, (formerly known as Resource) to push not only for the creation of an officer to support the Councils but also for funding to produce a regional archive strategy for each region in 2000-1. The Council's ability to deliver on those strategies was dramatically enhanced when the NCA secured funding from Resource for an Archive Development Officer for each of the English regions from April 2001.
Playing a leading role in promoting social inclusion work in archives. The first fruit of this direction was the publication of in April 2001 of Taking Part, which represented the first attempt to establish the extent to which archives were contributing to this key government policy. This was followed in March 2003 by the Road to Relevance Conference attended by 137 archivists, museum and library colleagues, policy makers and community workers.
Lobbies to raise the profile of archives amongst politicians. Work in this area included the highly successful event held at the Palace of Westminster in April 2002. As a result, the NCA now issues Parliamentary Briefings to all Members of Parliament and Peers to keep them abreast of latest developments.
Promoted the relevance and needs of sound and moving image archives to policy makers and funders, in partnership with others, through the Hidden Treasures Conference.
Was instrumental in setting up the British & Irish Sound Archive Forum in 2006. The Secretariat is provided by the British Library Sound Archive.
Widened awareness of the urgent problem of digital preservation of electronic documents by issuing the advocacy document Your Data At Risk.
Brought the funding priorities facing archives to a wider audience of decision-makers through the publication of Giving Value and events surrounding its launch.
Established a coherent executive and legal structure for the NCA, drawing on financial support from The National Archives and MLA. For example, this enabled the NCA to triple its turnover in the three years from 1999-2002. This executive structure has been key to the Council's ability to deliver. In 2001, the NCA became a registered charity and company limited by guarantee without share capital.
