Principal Investigator: Prof Roey Sweet, University of LeicesterCo-investigators: Dr Rebecca Madgin, University of Leicester; Dr Richard Courtney, University of Leicester; Prof Lin Foxhall, University of Leicester; Dr Pam Fisher, University of Leicester; Dr Matt Neale, University of Leicester; Mr Colin Hyde, University of LeicesterCollaborators: Leicester Secular Society;The Swannington Heritage Trust; Cottesmore History and Archaeology Group; Charnwood Arts; Leicester Transport Heritage Trust; Parish of the Presentation of Christ; Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre; Children's and Parents Alliance; Killamarsh Heritage Society; BU History Group; Derwent Valley Mills Heritage Site Educational Trust; Northampton Hebrew Congregation; Diseworth Heritage Trust; Leicester & Leicestershire Irish Forum; Leicester Masaya Link Group; Friends of Queens Road Allotments; Brightsparks Arts in Mental Health Group; Corby Borough Heritage Forum; Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group; Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire; Market Rasen Business Improvement Group; Nottingham Equal; Southwell Care Project; Southwell Community Archaeology Group; The Friends of Chain Bridge Forge; Titchmarsh History Association; West Deeping Heritage Group; The Patchwork ProjectDuration: From 2013 to 2014
‘Building and enriching shared heritages’ consolidated and built upon existing relationships between the University and the wider community by exchanging knowledge in the skills needed to conduct historical research. Through workshops, online training resources and one-to-one mentoring we equipped the HLF local groups with the skills to enhance their research projects and gave them the capacity to deliver on the grants for which they were funded. Thus local history and community heritage groups were empowered through enhancing their research skills and developing their own networks with other groups and with University researchers.
Workshops were demand led and topics covered ranged from provision of training in historical research skills and methods, to enhance the groups’ capabilities and capacity to conduct research, to publishing a book. Following on from the workshops the groups were able to benefit from online mentoring and site visits by the ECRs and members of academic staff. A durable legacy for the project has been created with a website hosting podcasts and online toolkits, based on the workshops.
Longer-term, the potential for further co-produced and co-designed research bids has been enhanced through shared knowledge and through building up working relationships between the University and the community.
