Next phase
What Support Makes Possible
The foundations are in place. Greater support allows HCI and RealCounties to build the definitive county reference for Britain and Ireland, strengthen the public evidence base and develop the most comprehensive county mapping resource.
This is not simply campaign activity. It is the next stage in building a lasting public resource for county accuracy, map development, official evidence, education and public recognition.
Foundations
The foundations are already in place
This is not a standing start. The county pages, map, evidence base, public audience and political contact already exist. Additional support determines how far and how fast the reference, mapping, education and recognition work can grow.
Build further
What greater support makes possible
The next stage is not a single campaign. It is the continued building of a national county reference, county map, evidence base, education resource and public recognition programme.
Increase public recognition of the historic counties through boundary signs, county days, local authority engagement, public wording and practical county visibility. This includes clear evidence for councils and public bodies where modern administrative names create confusion.
Write to MPs, Peers, MSPs, MSs, councillors, ministers, government departments and official bodies with printed and digital briefings, county maps and evidence. Physical correspondence gives county accuracy a more serious footing than email alone.
Develop the interactive map, county datasets, place lookups, boundary comparison tools, GIS resources and public map features, while continuing engagement with Ordnance Survey and other mapping bodies.
The historic counties need more than recognition. They need a reliable, comprehensive and publicly accessible reference base. RealCounties is steadily becoming the most complete public county reference available, bringing together county pages, evidence, standards, source material, official references, county-day information, boundary information, place-to-county information and public reference tools.
Create school packs, presentations, videos, worksheets and lesson plans linked to geography, history and citizenship from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 5, and explore county material for universities, teacher training and public learning.
Work with organisations such as Historic England, English Heritage, the National Trust, Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland, the RSPB and similar bodies so historic counties are more visible in places, listings, maps, public interpretation and national participation projects.
Practical projects
Specific projects ready to develop
These are practical pieces of work that become possible when there is enough time, funding and administrative capacity to carry them through properly.
Reference base
County Reference Expansion
Expand county pages, official references, source material, datasets, boundary evidence, place information and public tools to create the most comprehensive county reference ever assembled.
Contact systems
Councillor and authority database
Build and maintain a database of local authorities, councillors and relevant officers so county evidence can be sent to the right people and kept up to date as elections change membership.
Local press
County Day media programme
Create county-by-county media contact lists, send timely local press material before county days, and follow up afterwards so each county receives stronger local coverage.
Physical evidence
Printed briefing packs
Send physical letters, postcards, county maps and wall-map material to MPs, Peers, devolved representatives, councils and public bodies.
Public participation
RSPB and public participation
Follow up with organisations already using the historic counties, including the RSPB, whose annual bird count reaches millions of people across the UK.
Local reach
Local advertising and promotion
Use targeted local media advertising and online promotion to reach people in specific counties, especially around county days, boundary-sign projects and public campaigns.
Digital tools
Map tools and learning games
Expand online mapping tools, comparison features, quizzes, games and interactive material that help people learn the counties by using them.
Classroom resources
Schools and teachers
Develop classroom-ready county resources for teachers: PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, videos, lesson plans and curriculum-linked activities.
Further study
Universities and teacher training
Research opportunities in higher and further education, including history, geography, citizenship, local studies and teacher training.
Why financial support matters
Most of this work is not limited by lack of evidence. The evidence exists. The limit is capacity: time, research, data work, map development, printing, postage, databases, design, travel, correspondence and follow-up.
A national county reference, map and evidence base cannot rely only on spare time and social media posts. Financial support allows the work to be done systematically, professionally and at the scale the counties deserve.
Funding model
What support funds
Reference base
County Reference
Expanding county pages, evidence, datasets, standards, place information and public reference tools.
Map development
Mapping
data work, comparison tools and public map development
Physical material
Printing
letters, postcards, wall maps, briefing packs and educational material
Direct contact
Outreach
contact with councils, parliamentarians, public bodies and media
Learning
Education
school resources, teacher material, videos and learning tools
Capacity
Administration
databases, mail handling, PO Box or redirect services and follow-up systems
Stand with the counties
Support has already made this possible.
Now we build further.