Author: Larissa Allwork

On 19th September 2016, university and community participants in research projects funded by the Centre for Hidden Histories convened for a ‘Shared Experience Workshop’ at Derby Riverside Centre. The day was organised by Impact Fellow, Dr Larissa Allwork, Community Liaison Officer, Mike Noble and Centre for Hidden Histories, Principal Investigator, Professor John Beckett.  If the first report in this series highlighted the impact of the Centre for Hidden Histories, this second report focuses on the reflective process of learning from the Centre’s experiences. This reflective process is important because it contributes to the Centre’s aim of mapping out some best practice guidelines for the realisation of university/community partnerships which draw directly on grassroots experiences. These experiences highlight specific benefits, needs and challenges presented by the AHRC’s creation of the First World War Engagement Centres, in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund, in order to mark the 1914-1918 centenary.

To read Part Two of the Shared Experience Workshop Report, please click on the link below:

CHH Shared Experience Workshop Report Part Two

 

On Friday 11th November 2016, Larissa Allwork (Impact Fellow) and Mike Noble (Community Liaison Officer) marked Armistice Day by attending Blue Coat Church of England (Aided) Infant and Junior Schools’ Federation, World War One Commemoration event at St. Matthew’s Church, Walsall.  The morning commemoration event was performed to a full congregation of teachers, school pupils, parents and other community members.

A group of students led by project leader Jane Mason, have spent the past six months participating in a Heritage Lottery Funded project, researching information about the lives of soldiers linked to Walsall during the 1914-1918 conflict. Students have worked with a historian, composer, dramatist and media presenter to deepen their knowledge and awareness of the unique contribution that was made by people that lived in Walsall during the conflict- including those from  Asian and Afro-Caribbean countries.

The commemoration event – which lasted approximately forty five minutes – featured the children presenting drama, films, readings and poetry recitals. ‘Song Somme’ especially composed for the project by Colin King was performed by Blue Coat Junior School Choir. The commemoration also included two minutes of silence for remembering those that died during the 1914-1918 conflict.  Mike Noble and the University of Nottingham were also thanked for their involvement in the project. Head of Blue Coat Junior Infant Federation, Peter Prasadam praised the children’s dedication in realising the project: “This wonderful group of children from our school…have been working really hard over the past four months in a special project led by Jane Mason…Enjoy it but learn from it. Remember those lives of soldiers who lived so long ago, who gave so much for our country.” 

 

Alongside the Centre for Hidden Histories Research Development Fund which has enabled academic/community partner projects (click here to see a full report), the Centre’s Community Challenge Fund has supported eighteen small community-led activities which have investigated ‘hidden’ World War One histories. The Community Challenge Fund has enabled groups to access research resources, technical facilities and/or expertise in order to develop new projects.  It has also assisted groups with organising public events or visits in support of their research. A recent Community Challenge Fund activity was, Six Streets History Derby’s visit to the National Railway Museum in York (3 September 2016).

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