Building a future for our past

For Morgause, Cambridge’s famed intensity became a catalyst. "Nothing is done in halves," she says of her time here. "Obviously, it's academically rigorous, to a whole other level. But there's just a raw enthusiasm for everything, no matter how niche your interest. I was incredibly fortunate to be friends with a group of similarly positive and passionate people, and we committed ourselves 100 per cent to our studies, but also sports and other interests. It was just so cool to be in that environment where everyone strives for the best."

Surrounded by like-minded peers, Morgause discovered that her own enthusiasm wasn’t something to downplay, but to harness. Though she didn’t have the time to volunteer during university, she made the most of her experience, playing sport, and gaining skills and confidence through her involvement with May Ball and theatre committees: "I was crazy busy, but I thought, 'It's only three years. You've got this opportunity to try anything that you want, so why not?'"

At the same time, Cambridge also pushed Morgause to understand her limits. "Cambridge taught me my threshold, and that was very important", she reflects, a vital lesson when juggling the demands of her future roles.

Perhaps most importantly, Cambridge nurtured her passion for archaeology. She found herself inspired, not just by her lecturers, but also by the students who challenged them, questioning ideas. That culture of inquiry stayed with her, especially as she began to think critically about how the field could better engage young people. "Cambridge allowed me to find my life’s passion at 21," she says. "Not everyone gets to say that."

The spark for Derbyshire Scout Archaeology came during the early days of the pandemic. By this point, Scouting had long been an influential part of Morgause’s life: "I'd been in Girl Guides pretty much since age 4, and then at 15 I moved over to what we call 'the dark side' and joined Scouting, which provided a lot of cool opportunities."

With a few months between graduation and a new job in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (a childhood dream), Morgause set out to earn the final of Scouting’s four major awards: the Scout of the World Award (SOWA). Archaeology was the natural focus: "I came out of my degree with this insane amount of passion, but I saw this gap: no one seemed to be doing anything to get young people into archaeology. The industry keeps asking why young people aren’t involved in the subject, but if no one introduces them to it, or allows them to engage, how are they supposed to find it?"

So, she decided to change that, and what began as an 80-hour project to challenge the status quo quickly grew into something far more ambitious.

Five years later, her creation, the Derbyshire Scout Archaeology Team, is offering a range of opportunities for young people aged 4 to 18, from interactive intro sessions and educational resources to field trips and archaeological digs. The Scout badge program she created is now available nationally, and she has even introduced archaeology sessions for the youngest Scout age group, the Squirrels (ages 4 to 6), proving that meaningful heritage education can begin early: "It’s vital for me that we do archaeology for everybody. At first, people said, 'You can't give a trowel to a four-year-old.' But we have had zero injuries, and I don't need to 'touch wood' because I believe in what we do."

Morgause is also passionate about the youth-led approach she’s initiated: "'Youth-shaped' is what we call it. It's about the kids making their own choices and coming up with ideas. We now have a Youth Committee that is hugely invested in archaeology, and helps us decide our activities".

Next-level leadership that speaks to all ages

What sets Morgause apart isn’t just her dedication; it’s the way she leads, with a style rooted in inclusion and empowerment. At just 26, she heads a team of 17 volunteers, many of whom are decades older. "It’s so cool that I can have that kind of positive impact on someone," she says, recalling how one of her team members stood up to speak at an event for the first time thanks to the encouragement and support of Morgause and the team. "I’m the youngest person on the team, but they all have my back and respect my lead."

Everyone, she believes, deserves access to archaeology and has the potential to engage with it in their own way. "When I first started with the project, I made a map to show how rich the archaeology of Derbyshire is, and that every single person is only half an hour's walk to some form of heritage site, whether that’s an old tollhouse to a full-on cave site."

Morgause has seen firsthand how archaeology can help kids develop empathy, reduce prejudice, and learn to think critically. "It’s giving them an object and telling them, 'You’ve no idea who this belonged to or what the story is behind this, so what can you tell me about it?' We can't project our modern concepts onto it", she explains. "It’s a powerful way to help kids see beyond their own experiences."

And her efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Morgause recently won Volunteer of the Year at the Museum + Heritage Awards for 'blazing a trail for youth engagement in archaeology'. Though she’s keen to emphasise her team’s integral role, it’s evident from her zeal and dedication for the subject that the credit is largely hers. "The Museum + Heritage Awards were another level for us. It’s like the Oscars of the industry, and it put me in a room with pretty much every heritage expert ever to speak about our project. Hopefully, it's going to lead to a big growth for us".

So, what’s next for this innovative alumna?

After serving for two years in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Morgause left to begin teaching, seeing it as a stepping stone into the heritage sector (traditionally a hard area to break into). The goal is to work in museum outreach or even to found her own museum: "I love teaching; it’s intense and stimulating, but the dream is to work in heritage. I don't think I'll ever be a curator because I'm staunchly against things being in glass boxes. I’ve also got this idea of creating a literal museum of archaeology, as a subject, rather than the archaeology of a specific era."

For Morgause, volunteering isn’t simply a side project; it’s central to who she is, and she continues to run Derbyshire Scout Archaeology alongside teaching. We asked her what advice she has for others looking to make a difference through volunteering: "I think resilience is key, I received a hundred ‘no’s’ before I got the opportunity to start the Archaeology Team. Plus, it takes a willingness to get involved, to commit, to put yourself out there with wholehearted enthusiasm".

Whatever else the future holds for Morgause, one thing is certain: her passion, energy, and firm belief in young people as the future of archaeology will continue to shape the discipline and breathe new life into the heritage sector.