The year-long Pattie Slappers project will work with volunteers to collect stories from people who worked in the frozen food industry to create a website, a book, an oral archive, and a free-to-view exhibition at Hull’s Streetlife Museum in spring 2013.

Fiona Spiers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire and the Humber said: "The Frozen Food Industry has played a vital role in Hull’s industrial past. This project will enable the women who were part of this industry to share their memories, preserving this unique heritage by bringing its stories to life. Our industrial heritage is something we can all take pride in, and makes us who we are today!"

CERT director, Neil King said: "We have worked successfully with communities across the Humber region for some time. We feel there’s a need to capture the memories of people who worked in the processing industry, particularly as the development of Hessle Road continues. These are the streets that were once bustling with workers from Hull’s food processing companies."

The project will also engage with pupils from Sydney Smith school, offering young people the chance to learn about their community's past as well as working with the project team to learn new skills around oral history, interviewing and creative writing.

Simon Green, Assistant Head of Service (Heritage) said: "We are pleased to be hosting an exhibition which highlights the important role played by local women in one of Hull's key historical yet lesser known industries. We hope it will compliment the social and maritime history displays within the vibrant Museums Quarter and have a broad appeal to our visitors."

The project has already received strong community support and a phone-in earlier this year on BBC Radio Humberside's David Burns programme generated a lively and enthusiastic response from listeners. CERT would like to invite anyone who was involved in the food processing industry or who was a Pattie Slapper to get in touch. If you have photographs or stories to tell, call Gill or Simon on 01469 572 313.

Notes to editors

Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT) specialises in regeneration projects that deliver sustainable improvements to the local economy. Clients include social enterprises, charities, not-for-profit groups, local authorities, housing associations, education institutions, government departments and regeneration partnerships.

CERT operates with a range of funding including Lottery, European Social fund, and other public sector sources. CERT also generates its own funding through offering training to a range of voluntary and community sector and business clients.

Further information

Gillian Kapka on 01469 572 313 or email: pattieslapper@gmail.com.