From coal mining in Derbyshire to boot making in Northamptonshire, the East Midlands has a rich and proud history of industry.

However, with the decline of traditional industries over the last century, our working lives have changed dramatically, meaning first-hand memories of once prolific trades are at risk of being lost.

Market trader, miner, engineer or driver?

Launching today with an event in Derbyshire, the ‘Working lives’ campaign is inviting groups to apply for National Lottery grants to explore the diverse trades and tradespeople of their local area.

[quote=Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands]“Often when we think of our history, we think of kings and queens... We believe that the experiences of the people who helped build the country are just as important and should be recorded."[/quote]

Whether you’re a miner, driver, engineer, builder or market trader, we want to get people talking about their careers and help groups to record these memories for future generations. The 2018 campaign launch also coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “Often when we think of our history, we think of kings and queens, palaces and castles. But we believe that the experiences of the people who helped build the country are just as important and should be recorded.

“Through our Working Lives campaign, we’re hoping to celebrate and capture people’s recollections of working life for generations to come.”

National Lottery funding for our industrial heritage

Thanks to National Lottery players, we have already supported a number of projects celebrating the social and industrial heritage of the East Midlands:

• Digging Deep, Nottingham – Nottingham News Centre CIC is documenting the under-recorded stories of Afro-Caribbean miners. Read more about the profound effect the project had on former miner, Johnson.
• East Midlands Oral History Archive, Leicester – This project is filling in the gaps in Leicester’s history by capturing interviews with residents about life and work in the city from 1945 to 1962.
• Kelmarsh Hall, Northampton – The manor house has recently opened up its servants’ quarters for the first time, revealing what life was like ‘below stairs’.
• Ruston & Hornby, Lincolnshire – The collection of Lincoln-based engineering firm Ruston and Hornsby (now part of Siemens) has been made accessible to all on the Lincs to the Past website.
• W. W. Winters, Derbyshire – This photography studio in Derby was established in 1867, making it one of the oldest running studios in the world. Thanks to National Lottery funding, they started to preserve and catalogue their glass negative collection.

Feeling inspired?

If you feel inspired and want to talk to us about your working heritage project idea then get in touch with the East Midlands team.

Whether you want to capture former workers’ memories or digitise a workplace archive, we’ve got grants starting from £3,000.

Follow us on Twitter @HLFEastMids to keep up-to-date with the latest events and use the hashtag #WorkingLives to share your stories.