Cite this as: Monckton, L. 2026 Transforming lives through archaeology: civil society, social justice and heritage, Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.1
This article discusses the need for protective factors for health and wellbeing through heritage and archaeology-led practice, and the range of benefits attributed to such practice in specific circumstances working with communities with unmet needs. It introduces the volume by considering the articles within it, in relation to the Historic England framework on the six ways that heritage can deliver wellbeing. It covers the broad scope of how adding a wellbeing lens to our work can promote the democratisation of heritage and link to social justice objectives, and articulates, in more detail, the Rejuvenate project, which works through archaeology to support young people. This example shows how the foundations of feasibility and planning, and the nature of evaluation, can provide evidence on the specificity of impact and degree of benefit to individuals needed to ensure we make the case for the public benefit and enormous potential for the social impact of heritage and archaeology.
Corresponding author: Linda Monckton
[email protected]
Historic England 
Figure 1: Framework for wellbeing and heritage © Historic England
Figure 2: NEF indicator structure adapted from their national accounts framework (NEF 2009)
Figure 3: Project Rejuvenate Kent - working with drones © Isle Heritage
Figure 4: Project Rejuvenate Kent excavating at Godmersham Park © Isle Heritage
Figure 5: Project Rejuvenate Wiltshire, a young person handling and illustrating prehistoric artefacts from Wessex Archaeology's handling collection © Wessex Archaeology
Figure 6: Project Rejuvenate Kent, results from school staff on behaviour change in young people
Figure 7: Project Rejuvenate Wiltshire, school attendance dates for study and control group
Figure 8: Project Rejuvenate Wiltshire participant reflection
Figure 9: Project Rejuvenate Wiltshire, average wellbeing score percentage change after engagement
Figure 10: Wiltshire Rejuvenate, boy with mattock at Combe Bissett dig © Wessex Archaeology
Figure 11: Project Rejuvenate Wiltshire, girl proudly holds up discovered pottery sherd © Wessex Archaeology
Figure 12: Project Rejuvenate Wiltshire, Students look into test pit with on-site archaeologist © Wessex Archaeology
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Sofaer, J., D'Cruz, L., Zaboloteanu, O., Whitmarsh, B., Maguire, N., Sadler, J. and Chauhan, A. 2026 'Wellbeing Through Heritage for NHS Staff. Heritage Engagement and Participant Choice in the HerWellNHS Project', Internet Archaeology 73. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.73.7
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