Author: ruth1965

Sound Architect Guest Speaker at First World War event

twelve-and-sixpence-photoNOT FAR FROM THE FRONT – DISCOVERING THE FIRST WORLD WAR IN THE SOUTH EAST

10.00am – 4.00pm, 26th May 2017. Hastings Museum

Susanne Crosby, a Project Manager with Sound Architect Creative Media is speaking at a First World War information event organised by Gateways to the First World War and The Centre for Hidden Histories in collaboration with the Heritage Lottery Fund South East team at Hastings Museum on 26th May.

The event runs between 10am and 4pm and is free to all, although booking is essential.

Programme:

10am Registration, tea and coffee.

10:30 Welcome from Catherine Harvey (Hastings Museum) and Dr Lucy Noakes (Gateways to the FWW)

10:40 Professor Mark Connelly (University of Kent) and community volunteers on the ‘Battlefields Revisited’ project.

11:00 Dr Chris Kempshall (East Sussex County Council and Goldsmiths, University of London) on The impact of the First World War on the South East.

11:20 Susanne Crosby (Sound Architect Creative Media) on two HLF funded projects ‘The Day Sussex Died’ and ‘Twelve and Sixpence’.

11:40 Catherine Harvey (Hastings Museum) on the ‘Hastings Remembers’ project.

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Mike Noble (Hidden Histories) on the ‘Hidden Heroes of Empire’ project.

13:20 Liz Robertson (First World War Centenary Partnership).

13:40 Sarah Wicks (HLF South East) on The First World War: Then and Now Grant.

14:00 Round table discussions regarding project development and FWW project ideas.

16:00 Close

If you are interested in doing something to commemorate the centenary of the First World War in the South East of England and have thought of applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s First World War: Then and Now grant programme and need help shaping a project, then this information event is for you.  There will be an opportunity to discuss project ideas with engagement centre colleagues, HLF development staff and other community partners in the afternoon.

Gateways to the First World War and Hidden Histories are two of five First World War Engagement Centre centres based in universities across the UK. They welcome enquiries from individuals or groups wherever they are located and are especially keen to reach out across the South East for this event. They can connect you with university researchers, recommend archives and resources, advise on documenting and sharing your project and direct you to relevant training. Each centre has areas of particular expertise You can find out more on the First World War Engagement Centres website.

How to book a place at this event:

To attend the session please sign up via the Eventbrite page.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-far-from-the-front-discovering-the-first-world-war-in-the-south-east-tickets-34273805876

 

The Day that Sussex Died

Sound Archithe-day-that-sussex-died-phototect Creative Media is working with Eastbourne PALS on this Heritage Lottery funded WW1 project where a class of Year 8 students from St Catherine’s College, Eastbourne, formerly the Bishop Bell School, are honouring and respecting the memory and the sacrifice of these brave Sussex men.

Chris Richards from PALS said: “It’s very important to keep this history alive, even though no doubt 100 years seems like a long time ago to the students. The Battle of Boars Head was hugely significant to Sussex, especially the Eastbourne area.” The battle, in Richebourg, France, took place on 30 June 1916 and over 1000 Sussex men were killed or wounded. The attack was a crucial strategic manoeuvre to deflect attention from the attack at the Somme further to the North which was due to start the next day: both battles of course resulted in a tragic loss of life.

The project researches the local contribution to raising a citizens’ army during the First World War and its impact on Eastbourne and other Sussex towns and villages.  It also promotes and encourages community participation in the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Royal Sussex Regiment’s 11th 12th & 13th Southdown’s Battalions (Lowther’s Lambs) Boar’s Head action in France, particularly amongst the descendants of those involved.  The project provides an information booklet and DVD record about Boar’s Head which was exhibited at the Eastbourne Redoubt Military Museum.

Students from St Catherine’s College interviewed a local Second World War Veteran as part of the project.  Harry Waddingham, step great grandfather to Robyn Foster in the class of year 8 from the school in Langney, Eastbourne, came in to talk about some of his experiences, giving the class a unique insight into what it was like to live in those times.

Said teacher, Mrs Jenny Clifton, “It is a fascinating insight into a time these students have never known and by listening to real life stories it helps them to understand. Through researching this project, the students are discovering all sorts of local connections. This makes it real for them, not just history.”

Click here to read the booklet

Click here to view the exhibition boards

Twelve and Sixpence

twelve-and-sixpence-photo

This Heritage Lottery Funded WW1 project, researched the lives, memories and stories of women, children and families that remained behind whilst their fathers went to War. The project detailed the hardships, class differences/struggles, poverty, employment, social and political impacts and the many sacrifices that were made. It also examined the effect returning soldiers had on those who remained at home.

‘Separation Allowance’ was paid to all married soldiers, their children and also any adults who could prove that they were dependent on the soldier prior to his enlistment. This allowance was increased in March 1915 and again in July of the same year to twelve shillings and sixpence.

 

Another Swift takes off!

swift logo with straplineOur highly successful Swift Project that helped over 40 women in East Sussex with digital and business management skills in 2014/15, has been awarded further funding to open up the training opportunities to a new cohort of businesswomen.

The project is specifically targeted at women who are serious about developing their business idea or who are already in business and are committed to investing their time to attending a programme of development. The programme consists of modular and flexible training sessions which focus on delivering IT and business/personal development training. Amongst others, the part time courses include: social media, web/graphic design, writing a business plan, marketing, finance, time management, presentation skills, and selling on-line.

Sessions start on 2nd October at venues in Crowborough and Eastbourne and are completely free. Alongside the training participants will be able to attend regular peer to peer groups to share knowledge and experience with the support of a business mentor.

No qualifications or experience are required to join the programme, just a desire to learn, develop, and improve digital and business skills in an environment that supports women’s specific needs.

Places are limited to 32 and the deadline for applications is 16th September so to avoid disappointment, please apply early. For further information please call 01825 891094 or email Ruth Maddison at maddison.ruth@yahoo.co.uk

An “immensely successful project” said Baroness Garden at the Swift Project Celebration

Baroness Garden smallSwift Participants - group shot FINAL 2 smallerOver 70 people gathered at the end of project celebration event at Buxted Park Hotel on 9th March 2015 to view an exhibition of the Swift Participants’ business ideas, watch a film about the project and to hear from a range of guest speakers including Baroness Garden of Frognal, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex – Peter Field, Chief Executive of ESCC – Becky Shaw, Abi Kolliari from American Express and Frances Tobin of the Makers Atelier.

Said Peter Field, “The energy that is buzzing around this room is fantastic and I want to congratulate everyone involved in the project.  It’s absolutely vital that we expand the self-employed business sector and develop great ideas in a safe environment and that’s exactly what’s happened here.”

Baroness Garden, who was a member of the House of Lords Digital Skills Committee during 2014, said “It’s increasingly important to have good connectivity and the Government are making good progress, but women are under-represented in IT and an additional £2.6 billion a year could be created by involving more women in digital skills.”

Becky Shaw - smallBecky Shaw said, “If women started businesses at the same rate as men, then we would have a million more women in business.  The most important thing that stops women from going into business is the risk of failure and this project recognised that by providing peer to peer sessions which have afforded a network of support going forward.”

Said Rachel Lewis, Chief Executive of Sound Architect, “This project has given women in East Sussex an amazing opportunity to develop their businesses; however, with the programme being heavily oversubscribed, it is clear that there are many more women in the County that could benefit.  We will continue to seek to capitalise on the success of the Swift Project and to help another cohort of entrepreneurial women contribute to the economy of East Sussex.”