Help explore the history of Stanmer Park and capture its fascinating past?
BRIGHTON & Hove City Council are on the lookout for ten Oral History volunteers to help document the captivating stories of Stanmer Park’s past and present place.
The volunteers will record people’s feelings and attitudes towards the park, as well as the rich heritage of the Estate, its landscapes, and the people who have lived in the area over the years.
The Stanmer Park Oral History Project is a participatory, heritage-focused oral history and memory collection project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and BIG Lottery Fund.
As part of the Stanmer Park Restoration Project’s Activity Plan, the chosen volunteers will be trained, in three separate 2 ½ hour sessions, in oral interviewing techniques and recording processes to enable them to undertake interviews for the Oral History Project.
Volunteers will also assist at public drop-in Memory Days. These events aim to engage with local communities and encourage residents to share stories, photos and other memorabilia they may have of Stanmer Park.
The training sessions will take place in Brighton in September, and volunteers should commit to attending all three. Volunteers should also be able to commit to conducting at least two oral history interviews, and to assist with Memory Day events.
Councillor Anne Pissaridou, Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “Stanmer Park is very well loved by so many of our residents, including my own family, and I’m sure there are many interesting stories to be shared.
“I would encourage anyone with an interest in the park and its history to consider becoming one of our ten volunteers and help us to capture and document these personal memories for future generations.”
Anyone interested in volunteering should email: Stella Richardson at stanmerproject@brighton-hove.gov.uk to request an application form.
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday, July 12, 2019.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an informal interview on July 18, prior to the final selection of the ten volunteers.
The Stanmer Park Restoration Project will:
♦ Restore the Walled Garden and surrounding areas
♦ Restore the 18th century landscape and historical features
♦ Provide hundreds of education, training and volunteering opportunities – plus other activities as part of the new Activity Plan (of which the Oral History Project is part)
♦ Improve and increase park-wide access and movement for all
♦ Explain and celebrate the park’s history and importance
♦ Plant over 250 new trees
♦ Create a long-term management vision for the park for the next 10 years, including an estate-wide Woodland Management Plan
♦ Provide a dedicated onsite team to deliver the 10 year vision and beyond.
For more information about the Stanmer Park Restoration Project, click here: