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Toolkit
Welcome to the development page for the Toolkit which will be the final output of the Fear and Joy Project.
Introduction
The Fear and Joy Toolkit will be a practical, reflective resource designed to help heritage practitioners explore the emotional realities of their work. It will support personal reflection, team conversations, and sector‑wide wellbeing by offering gentle, accessible tools for noticing, naming, and working with emotions.
This toolkit will be designed so it can be used individually, in supervision, in team meetings, or as part of CPD sessions. Everything will be designed to be calm, safe, and easy to engage with.
What is the toolkit
The Fear and Joy Toolkit brings together a set of practices that help practitioners:
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recognise emotional patterns in their work
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explore moments of joy, pride, and connection
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acknowledge fears, pressures, and uncertainties
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build emotional literacy
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reduce isolation
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strengthen professional identity
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support wellbeing in heritage environments
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combat harmful workplace culture
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advocate for change within the profession
It is a practitioner‑led resource that encourages curiosity, reflection, and shared understanding.
You can use the toolkit:
Individually
For personal reflection, journaling, or grounding before/after challenging work.
In Teams
As a way to open conversations about emotional labour, identity, and wellbeing.
In Workshops
To support group reflection, CPD sessions, or sector training.
In Supervision
As a structured way to explore emotional themes in professional practice.
In Research
To gather anonymised insights about practitioner experience.
Toolkit Components
The toolkit is still in development. As it becomes clear what is needed to form the toolkit, components will be added and explained within this section.
At present we have an idea about what headline subjects the toolkit will deal with and these have been listed here as place markers.
Identity and self-worth
The impact that fear and the responses to fear have on our selves. Also how our responses to change are informed by our self-worth.
Risk and fear culture
Examining risk aversion within the profession and how this feeds harmful cultures.
Recognition and opportunities
How do we receive or desire recognition and opportunities? What are the blockers to receiving recognition we deserve?
Education and outreach
Education within the sector and education beyond the sector. Challenges, fears, and joys to be found through our educational remit.
Relevance and the future
How relevant is our profession to the future? How does fear of obsolescence inform our negative behaviors?
Perceptions and myths
What myths exist about our profession which we tell ourselves or are told by others? How do they affect us?
Connection and community
What do communities look like within heritage? Does the "BIG LIE" help us or hinder us?
Learning, thinking, and discovery
The inherent joy from discovering something 'new' which expands our understanding or the understanding of our society about who they are. Are there blockers to this and how can we remove them to pursue this joy more honestly?
Workplace culture and behaviours
Examining harmful workplace cultures and behaviours. What we can do to combat them or protect ourselves from them.
Professional structures and power
What power structures or systems exist which support fear of change and/or prevent progress within the profession?
Publication and knowledge sharing
How we find joy through sharing what we do and challenges/blockers to this.
Collaboration
The joy and risks of collaboration. How can we be more secure in ourselves and out colleagues to grasp greater joy?
Downloads and materials
Accessibility and Emotional Safety
The toolkit will be designed with accessibility and emotional safety in mind. To this end the following list is included throughout the Fear and Joy Project and will be developed as the toolkit forms.
Accessibility
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Plain language
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High‑contrast text
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Alt text for all diagrams
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Screen‑reader friendly PDFs
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Clear heading hierarchy
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No colour‑dependent meaning
Emotional Safety
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Grounding prompts included throughout
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Content warnings where needed
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Gentle pacing
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No forced disclosure
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Encouragement to pause or step away
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Optional reflective depth
This toolkit is meant to support, not overwhelm.