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Case StudyBy the Dome it's Home

Producing a Community History

Housing Association - Charitable Sector (2007 - 2010)

as part of the CIRCLES (Community Information Resource for Learning, Education and Skills) Project

#oralhistory #research #publications #grantfunding #communitydevelopment

My Role: Bid Development, Researcher (Oral Historian), Project Manager, Editorial Oversight

💎 Key Skills:

  • Funding source research

  • Needs assessment

  • Funder priorities and preferences

  • Strategic planning - funder goal alignment

  • Resource allocation

  • Project management

  • Writing and Communication

  • Budget justification

  • Core estimation and financial compliance

  • Defining impact metrics

  • Guideline adherence

  • Facilitation, interviews and transcription

  • Stakeholder meetings

  • Proofreading

Funded by: The Heritage Lottery Fund - £30,000 Grant

The legacy of the grant funding:

This project was inspired by a creative intergenerational reminiscence project that I led on to support some of our sheltered housing schemes.

As the result of this I sought out suitable funding for a project which would capture the oral histories of the residents of the estate.

In 2007 I sought to apply for funding through development of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund which was thankfully successful.

As part of this we were able to employ two editors to drive forward the project.

In addition myself and a small team interviewed residents and undertook some children's and young people's creative art (such as 'The Kursaal History Hunters') and poetry sessions to give the content additional depth and breadth.

We transcribed all the interviews and the editors selected themes and extracts for the publication. As part of this we were able to secure agreement from all those involved that the original recordings could be transferred permanently to the digital archives of the British Library.

In partnership with East 15 Acting School we were also able to have one successful performance of 'Southend Memories' with drama students acting extracts from the book.

In 2010 we launched the book and gifted a copy each to all of the contributors. We also were able to secure some royalties from sales to help the future of the CIRCLES project.

Sadly one of the residents passed away just prior to the launch, and so the book was dedicated to him as part of his and the book's legacy.

"My favourite ride was the Waterchute. But my father said, 'You don't go on there unless you have an adult. He used to stay on the bottom, he wouldn't get on it. I don't know why he didn't want to get on it, but he used to stand and watch and make sure we were alright. Where the front dome is now, we used to walk in there used to be all the machines like an arcade place, so you walked out onto the grounds, and there was the wall of death, helter skelter." - Margaret (page 51) 

Print Length: 96 pages

Language: English

Publisher: Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd

Dimensions: 15.2 x 0.5 x 22.9 cm

ISBN-13: 1907211270

Original recordings lodged and available from: The British Library

Publication description:

This insightful book brings together the memories of the residents of Southend on Sea's Woodgrange Drive Estate.

Built on the former site of the Kursaal Amusement Park the area has a lot of history, and many a story.

The honest accounts of the residents retell the stories of their lives, from wartime Southend up to the present day.

With over 25 images of the residents, the estate and bygone Southend this book provides a wonderful nostalgic trip into the lives of the residents. This book bridges the gap between the generations, incorporating stories from decades from the 1920s onwards. As well as historical accounts this books looks at the residents' experiences of Southend, their attitudes towards the estate as well as their future aspirations. The book brings together different stories and helps create a sense of identity, a shared experience for all residents.

A poem by local school children as part of the book (p 59):

Merry-go-round

Spins quickly

Fun and thrilling

Goes up and down

Magnificent

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