Tunstall Events Group, with support from North Staffordshire based participatory arts company Letting in the Light, has received £9,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to support them to commemorate and remember the First World War and the local people who fought in it.

Awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme, Tunstall Remembered will enable local people in Tunstall to come together to preserve the memories and heritage of the people who lived through the First World War, and in particular to bring to life the soldiers rememembered on the war memorial in Tunstall’s Memorial Gardens and put faces to their names.

The successful First World War Centenary event in Tunstall Park was the start of the project, which will now continue with a range of reminiscence activities in schools and the local community.

Volunteers will collect photographs, newspaper clippings, documents, letters and photos of keepsakes, as well as family tales passed down to help them build a clear picture of what life was really like. From the sessions a digital archive will be produced to preserve the history for future generations.

Cllr Lee Wanger said: “We are thrilled that Tunstall Events Group has received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Our Centenary event in Tunstall Park has really stirred up local interest in the First World War and the local people that fought in the war and it is a fantastic way to raise awareness in the local community.”

Sarah Bonam, Project Manager for Letting in the Light, explained why the project is important: “Lots of local people have stories about the soldiers named on the war memorial and we felt that it would be a fitting tribute to try and to bring to life their stories. We had a fantastic response at the First World War Centenary event at the weekend and have already found several local people, and someone as far away as Australia, who have information tucked away about relatives named on the memorial.”

Reyahn King, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, said: “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. As the Centenary of the First World War arrives we’re pleased to support the Tunstall community as it uncovers untold stories – local and even from the other side of the world – and creates a digital legacy which will keep the memory of Tunstall’s First World War alive for generations to come."

Notes to editors

About Tunstall Events Group
Tunstall Events Group is a recently formed group of volunteers. All of the group sit on different committees that benefit the community of Tunstall such as local resident's associations and groups of local interest.

About Letting in the Light
Letting in the Light are a participatory arts company based in North Staffs working across the West Midlands and beyond. Our main activity is working with different community groups or agencies to devise creative projects that meet a need, explore a question, promote development through training, result in site specific art, and through this process ensure exposure to a high quality art experience. Each project is bespoke and is carefully designed to engage and promote participation with the specific group whether it a community of place or interest, young people with learning disabilities, adults with mental illness, older people living in isolation with dementia, care workers, market traders or a young persons hospital forum. Letting in the Light have wide experience in working inter-generationally and have previously led on several heritage projects using creative processes as an extremely successful method of engagement. We collaborate with an ever-growing number of associate artists and practitioners to feed our development and the breadth of our projects.

Further information

For further information, images and interviews, please contact Sarah Bonam at Letting in the Light on 01782 714 776 or email sarah@lettinginthelight.org.uk.