Exploring the heritage of migrant communities along the number five bus route

My Route was an 18-month project to investigate the past 70 years of history along the Stratford Road from Sparkbrook to Hall Green. This area of Birmingham is home to a variety of migrant communities and the project focused on engaging local Indian, Kurdish, Pakistani, Irish, African Caribbean and Somali residents and workers. These communities have helped create Birmingham’s identity as a diverse city, yet the history of this area was largely unpreserved and undocumented.

The project addressed this gap by researching topics such as religion, trade, food and architecture as well as capturing people’s memories of the area. Local volunteers were trained in archiving and data collection to enable them to share the stories of their community. The project created an interactive digital map, a mobile app and schools' downloadable resource packs to help more people learn about this heritage. A programme of engaging events included a series of free heritage taxi tours and an exhibition comprising images and sound boxes positioned along the road. For more details see the project film.