The project has enabled young people from the Manningham Youth Project and Impressions Gallery’s New Focus group to be trained as oral history interviewers. Using audio, film and photographic recordings, they have been listening to and documenting the personal stories of a wide range of older south Asian residents, from retired factory workers and community workers to successful politicians, business leaders and artists.

One of the highlights of the project so far has been a study visit to Blackburn Museum, which has a special display dedicated to South Asian history and culture and which included the opportunity to don protective gloves and handle historic artefacts that are normally safely stored in glass cabinets.

The project is led by Consortia of Ethnic Minority Organisations (COEMO) and has been made possible with a grant of £38,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

COEMO’s Chief Executive, Dr Mohammed Salam, said, “I have been really impressed at the enthusiasm and commitment of the young people participating in this project and I can’t wait to see the final publication and exhibition display, to be launched at Bradford’s prestigious Impressions Gallery in this autumn.

The list of people being interviewed is impressive. Participants in recent oral history workshops at Impressions Gallery included three women of South Asian origin whose outstanding achievements in the fields of culture, business and politics have made a considerable impact on the city: Usha Parmer, Chief Executive of the award winning Sunrise Radio; TV presenter Anita Rani (from BBC’s The One Show); and Naveeda Ikram, who in 2011 became the UK’s first female, Muslim Lord Mayor.

Notes to editors

The Consortia of Ethnic Minority Organisations (COEMO) was established in 2000 as an umbrella body for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) organisations and groups in Bradford and District. COEMO is a registered charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee.

COEMO’s role is to support BME community groups and voluntary sector organisations, helping them to engage more effectively in mainstream activities and services in Bradford. Services include advice, training, information, advocacy and support networks.

COEMO’s strategic role is to help build an infrastructure for the black and ethnic minority voluntary sector and to help individuals, groups and communities in a changing and challenging environment.

COEMO aims to empower ethnic minority organisations to be more participative and more effective in mainstream activities in Bradford and beyond, and to influence the perceptions of funders towards ethnic minority led organisations.

Further information

Dr Mohammed Salam at Salam@coemo.co.uk or visit the COEMO website to find out more.