Community Projects
Check back here soon to see more community projects added…
Connected Histories:
Muslims in the First World War
www.connected-histories.org/ww1m/
Muslim involvement in the British war effort is a big story. The British Indian Army totalled 1.4 million troops, in which 430,000 Muslims served. Through a website and an exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (October 2016 – March 2017), the project focuses on descendants’ stories and family artefacts of Muslims who served in the War. This HLF-funded project was delivered by Xtra Mile West Midlands CIC in partnership with Birmingham Museums Trust, University of Birmingham, Library of Birmingham, and Future Seed CIC.
Untold Stories
People’s Heritage Co-operative
www.phcooperative.org.uk
The People’s Heritage Co-op focused on the untold stories of soldiers returning to Birmingham from the Great War with serious physical and psychological injuries. The project mapped the sites of hospital treatment and convalescence that were set up in the city and explored what happened to the soldiers after their treatment ended. A learning guide was produced from the research and is available for download here.
Birmingham Children of War
Friends of Birmingham Archives & Heritage
birminghamchildrenofwarblog.wordpress.com
Marking the Centenary of the First World War, this project will enable local people to come together to focus on uncovering the largely untold story of children’ s experience of war from a Birmingham perspective.
King Edward’s School
and the Great War Exhibition
http://www.kes.org.uk/great-war.html
King Edward’s School is marking the centenary of the Great War through commemorating the service and sacrifice of over 1,400 Old Edwardians who served in the conflict. Films can also be viewed from their website, including: History of the Somme; Tolkien’s Great War; and, Robert Gilson: Memoirs of an Infantry Officer.
Discovering the WW1 Home Front:
Children and charities, food and farms
homefront.creativeblogs.net
This project considers the impact of WW1 upon rural communities in the UK by looking at the changes brought about in Hempsted, a small village in Gloucestershire. Our project aims to ‘hone in’ on our local area to explore, conserve and share the lives of people on the Home Front between 1914 and 1918.
The History and Heritage of Birchfield Harriers
archive.birchfieldharriers.com
Explore the online archive of Birchfield Harriers athletics club. A browsable comprehensive database of individuals who have represented the Harriers over the years. Also features archives and photographic galleries and stories.
Hidden Entries
Centre of Curious Sonic Investigations farms
marg.cocsi.org
Absconditi Viscus (or Hidden Entries) is a series of sound compositions based on phonic excavations and sonic mining of Birmingham City University’s School of Art archives from the period 1914 to 1918.
The Road to the Somme
Swanshurst School
www.swanshurst.org/history
As part of the World War One centenary commemorations, The Road to the Somme, performed by Swanshurst girls, was featured as part of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’s Great War exhibition. Made entirely from the original letters of serving soldiers and their families, this often moving film is a fitting tribute to those who died in the service of their country during that terrible battle.
Women’s Work: Stories of Female Factory Workers in WW1
Women & Theatre
womenandtheatre.tumblr.com
Women & Theatre’s latest heritage research project, Women’s Work, explores the lives of the women who worked in the Birmingham Small Arms (BSA) factory in Small Heath during WWI. Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Birmingham City Council and several Charitable Trusts, it connected a diverse group of women from across Birmingham who collaborated with an artistic team to research and develop their findings into a theatre production called Clocking On...
World War One in the Vale
Vale of Evesham Historical Society
Did you know that Pershore Plums helped win the First World War? This is just one of the stories discovered about the WW1 Home Front in the Vales of Evesham and Pershore. There are many more to tell, the area contributed to the war effort through its fundraising, small-scale agriculture, convalescent hospitals, land girls, child labourers and the daily efforts of local families and volunteers. This initiative is organised by Professor Maggie Andrews of the University of Worcester in order to develop active research and creative partnerships between the university and its communities.
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World War One: Bournville Remembers
Bournville Infants School
Bournville Infants School explored the rich heritage of their local community to mark the centenary of WW1 by providing an opportunity for the children, along with their families, Cadbury employees and other local businesses, to explore and research the Bournville/Cadbury legacy. They produced a drama re-enacting the story of a Bournville family during WW1 and a film maker documented the week’s events and produced a short film, not only of the finished production, but also footage of the lessons in school, rehearsals with the actors and interviews with members of the Cadbury Family and local residents.
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Remembrance Poets
www.facebook.com/Remembrancepoets
This project explored the history of the First World War whilst engaging with hard to reach groups, local residents and emerging poets/ focusing on poetry, tributes and songs, published and produced around the time of the Great Warm the project explored the impact of the First World War on the local area of North Staffordshire. An audio book will be launched in April 2015.
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The Role and Experience of Soldiers of Colour in the First World War
www.footballfineart.com
This project by Footballfineart, funded by the HLF’s Understanding the First World War programme, focuses upon the contribution made to the First World War by manpower from Britain’s colonies. The project explores this theme through workshops, talks, film evenings and creative arts sessions in schools, community groups, and church organisations.
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