Decision details

Voicing the Past - Updating computer equipment, Project management/admin and publicity (including making an online presentation)

To provide funding of £ 100 to the above project.

Reason for decision:

We have a growing archive of both written and audio material. We see this archive as a living and growing thing. We feel an obligation to our memory sharers whose generosity created it, to share this invaluable heritage with the wider community.

Early work on feasibility studies for future projects done with Christchurch Canterbury University students on placement with us shows that getting young people to voice extracts from our elderly memory sharers’ accounts not only teaches the young about our heritage but also builds empathy with the memory sharers themselves.

Voicing is a very popular idea with both those memory sharers who have sent us written material and with our existing volunteers. Helen Sharp who is working with Folkestone Academy on a WWII history project is keen for her students to become involved by doing some voicing for the pilot project.

Support for a fascinating project that engages young and young at heart alike, and preserves local memories in an interesting and engaging format. The small grants from ward councillors will act as evidence of local support for the project, hopefully enabling Pavement Pounders to receive much greater HLF support for a wider project ot the benefit of the area.