Led by volunteers from the local community, Women's Liberation and After in Nottingham (WOLAN) aims to preserve the archives as a resource for present and future generations. The project will use this resource and captured personal accounts of many women involved in the movement to construct a narrative of the diverse experiences of the women's liberation movement in Nottingham. It will highlight the general public's reaction to it at the time and the role played by women in the early days of Nottingham Women's Centre, specifically during the 1970s to late 1980s.

The initiative is the first of its kind in Nottingham and will raise the profile of Nottingham women’s history and build a greater sense of pride in their heritage.

Ms Olumide Adisa, Fundraising and Marketing Officer for Nottingham Women’s Centre, said: "We are thrilled to have received a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund for WOLAN; it will help us preserve our archives at Nottingham Women's Centre and to share the richness of women's heritage in Nottingham through stories from the women themselves."

Vanessa Harbar, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, welcomed the project: "A large number of young women, and men alike, are unaware of this fascinating and inspiring history in Nottingham. This is a great project undertaken by the charity; the archive is currently stored in a women only building, this project will preserve an archive at significant risk, and share an important chapter of the city’s history with a the wider community."

Note to editors

Nottingham Women's Centre is run by women for women. They exist to help women to achieve their aims, become stronger and more independent, and provides a safe and supportive environment in which women can do this.

Since 1971, they have been running a regular programme of training courses, counselling, crèche, and other support services from within the centre, making them a 'one-stop shop' for women in Nottingham. Their services are available to all women, without exclusion; however the services users are predominantly from deprived or socially excluded backgrounds. Further information can be obtained from the Nottingham Womens Centre website.

Further information

WOLAN: Olumide Adisa, Fundraising and Marketing Officer on 0115 941 1475, email: development@nottinghamwomenscentre.com.