Mission statement and policy documents

What we do, and why we do it

Gloucestershire Archives is part of Gloucestershire County Council’s Corporate Resources Directorate.  Archives matter:  they are our unique, authentic, trustworthy, collective memory; they underpin our identities, and support informed decision-making, transparency and accountability. 

Motto:  evidence, memory, trust

Our Vision is to gather, keep and share documentary evidence relating to Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire for everyone for ever. 

Our Mission is to lead a collaborative approach to expertly safeguard and develop our unique collections, to make them widely accessible to engage, educate and empower as many people as possible, now and in the future. We will address cataloguing and conservation backlogs; adopt a more proactive, inclusive approach to collecting; progress pioneering innovations in digital preservation; and develop new ways of engaging with audiences.   

Our main activities are:

Gathering - Locating and collecting archives and published sources which are of historical significance and record everyday life for the counties of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire;

Keeping -  Expertly preserving and safeguarding unique and irreplaceable collections, some of which are recognised nationally or internationally;

Sharing - Encouraging the use, appreciation and enjoyment of archives through inclusive and welcoming public services; Making accurate information about our collections widely available.  

Collaborating - Forging ground-breaking partnerships and lasting volunteering opportunities that inspire and support local people and communities to gather, keep and share the documented heritage of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire.

We follow a range of guiding principles when carrying out our activities.  These are summarised in the downloadable policies on this page.  You can also download a summary of our current business plan.