WW11 Stories project update

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund for our South Gloucestershire Second World War Stories project. Made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the project will explore the impact of the Second World War and growing up in the post war period. A huge thank you to all of you for helping to develop the project plans and for your letters of support.

We are currently in the process of recruiting two part-time project officers to deliver the project over an 18 month period starting in April this year. Once they are in post, they will be begin to research the Second World War in South Gloucestershire. Please do let us know if you have any photos or information that you have already collected about the Second World War in South Gloucestershire. They will use their research to inspire reminiscence sessions for older people to share memories and they will record a selection of their stories through further interviews.

We aim to create a small collection of stories that are easily accessible. For a younger generation raised on You Tube, we want to create a series of short films that are concise and engaging. With these, we aim to create a real understanding of what the war and post war periods were like and seek to generate understanding between different generations.

We will share the project through schools workshops, public events, a touring exhibition, publishing the stories and films on-line alongside resources for future work and extending existing digital platforms such as Know Your Place. We hope to hold some special commemoration events featuring evacuation days with Avon Valley Railway. As part of the project we will also work with Gloucestershire Archives to provide some training to museums and heritage groups on digital archiving.

Following on from the great work that has been carried out on the First World War, we also hope you will support us to commemorate those who were lost in the Second World War by publishing stories of Second World War soldiers commemorated on local war memorials on an update of the First World War website. Please do let us know if you already hold any information on Second World War casualties.

We look forward to collaborating with you on this project. If you have any comments or questions, please contact Alison Catlin on Alison.catlin@southglos.gov.uk or call 01454 865835.

Alison Catlin: Public Art and Cultural Events Co-ordinator: South Gloucestershire Council: 01454 865835