Common Voices - Past and Present

Heritage Lottery Fund award for a Clapham Oral History project: Common Voices - Past and Present
‘Oral history is spoken history … But at the start is the voice, the original vehicle for the transfer of evidence from human memory to the world‘. The Oral History Society.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a grant of £38,000 to Big Up Films, a Clapham-based group of film-makers and arts educators, for an exciting project taking place from May to September 2009. The Common Voices Project’s aim is to bring together different generations to capture and compare memories and experiences of growing up around Clapham Common just after World War Two with those of children now.

We are keen to hear from anyone who wishes to take part by:
• Becoming part of a steering group to learn heritage and research skills at Lambeth Archives, attend two Oral History Society training sessions and help with interviews;
• Sharing their post-war memories of living in, or moving to Clapham, and
• Assisting in heritage-themed activities with artists to create lasting works for the community.

The results of the project will be shared with the community to celebrate their diverse heritage in the form of a DVD film accompanied by illustrations and a mixed-media map of Clapham to be created collaboratively by pupils from Bonneville Primary School and volunteers.

We will be holding a Project Launch event at Bonneville Primary School, Bonneville Gardens, London SW9 9LN on 21st May from 4 - 5pm.
Please come along to find out more and ways you can volunteer and get involved.
Bring along any photos, artefacts or mementoes of Clapham from 1948 on. With your permission these could be used in the project and preserved for the future with Lambeth Archives.

Commenting on the award, Tricia Holland, Project Co-ordinator said: ‘We are delighted that this award will enable and inspire different age groups to recreate a vivid picture of post-war Clapham compared with life today and learn a lot from each other in the process’.

For further information, please contact: Tricia Holland, Project Co-ordinator:
T. 0207 720 0695 or E. triciaholland@talktalk.net
www.bigupfilms.co.uk