During Autumn and Winter 2021, Manchester City of Literature delivered the Heritage Stories Project, working with Archives and Community Groups in Manchester (84 Youth, Odd Arts, Hideaway, Archives+), Tameside (Tameside and Glossop Dementia Friendly, Tameside Local Studies and Archive) and Oldham (Oldham Local Studies and Archives, Women’s Chai Project). The purpose of the project was to increase access of residents in these areas to their local archives and to inspire civic pride. We wanted to use the project to co-create Heritage Stories Resource Packs which would then be distributed to the local communities, empowering them to tap into the rich histories that exist locally and to inspire them to see themselves as very much a part lived community history. Managed by Harriet Morgan-Shami, the project delivered a range of different activities including workshops, heritage walks and visits to each archive.

Drawing from local archives the booklets act as a creative stimulus for other residents to create personal responses, to tell stories and explore their local area from home or on outdoor walks.

Here you can find each of the Heritage Stories Resource Packs. We hope you find as just as much enjoyment interacting with them as we did creating them. This project was funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund.

“The tour of the archives was amazing for the women, the majority of whom didn’t know it existed. The women were also fascinated by the archives on South Asian communities in Oldham. They found out more about their family members and members of their community and the achievements and difference they made.”

“I learnt a lot about researching and sources of information. I realised how things and the local area have changed since my childhood.”

“The project as a whole also helped the women to improve skills on storytelling, creativity, verbal and written language.”