Help a New Professional to get to Conference this year

Last year’s New Professional bursarian makes a great case for why this bursary is so important – can you help us get another New Professional to Conference this year?

The ARA Conference offers every new professional the chance to meet the widest range of colleagues and expand their knowledge of the sector. Our New Professional Bursary provides a free place for a new professional at our conference in Bristol.

The New Professional chosen for last year’s bursary says:

“I was fortunate enough to receive a full bursary to attend the whole of the three day conference including accommodation and travel. It would not have been possible for me to attend otherwise and the resulting experiences significantly improved my network and confidence as a lone worker within my organisation. A number of invaluable contacts were made during this experience, as well as the supportive network of professionals from all over the world, including Zimbabwe and Japan and I will cherish these connections for the whole of my career.”

If you remember what it was like starting out in the sector and want to help someone else to succeed please consider donating to our New Professional bursary fund for our 2025 Conference in Bristol. The more you give, the more bursaries we can give out! 

Our 2024 New Professional Busary holder continues:

“Firstly a little background introduction to myself. I am not a historian, I do not have a PHD, I am not white or male and I have been diagnosed with disabilities.

I attended the full event and took part in workshops on diversity and inclusivity within the record-keeping sector. We were treated to top notch speakers and lavished with enough nourishing food to match the intensive pace of the Seminars and Workshops provided.

The most important question I have been asking myself as I approach my probationary review and reflect on the event is how has the ARA conference on 'Climate and Crisis' impacted my work as an Archivist six months into my full-time employment?

With my disabilities including Anxiety, Dyspraxia, Depression ADD and Dyscalculia (terrible combination for an archivist) I found the ARA experience both accommodating, friendly and galvanising. Speakers and attendees alike gave me so much encouragement and showed genuine interest in me as I stood on the precipice of an emerging career pathway. I would like to thank the conference organisers and sponsors for seeing value in championing a range of perspectives and experiences as we all sought to tackle the challenge of climate crisis together.

Having started in my current position as sole Archivist and Records Manager, the role has been extremely fast-paced. As a result of attending the conference and connecting with practitioners in Birmingham, I was prepared to take on new challenges in my new position the very next day. I had gained sufficient insight into best practices and innovative solutions which I could apply on my own, through this opportunity. The experience has greatly reduced my anxiety in the workplace overall and I hope I can help others by sharing my experience.”

Give another New Professional the same opportunity 

You can give another New Professional in the record-keeping sector the same opportunity that has made such a difference to our 2024 bursary holder by making a donation to our New Professional Bursary fundraiser – if we get enough money we could send more than one New Professional to conference this year!

Applications for bursaries will open in May and details will be announced on this website and on our conference website here: