Accessing the archives

One of the project's important partners is the West Yorkshire Archive Services (Bradford) who have a huge collection of material relating to the history of the area from old maps and newspaper cuttings to important documents and photographs.

Archivist Ameena Mughal, who is herself a Bradfordian, has taken a keen interest in the Changing Bradford project from the outset and kindly gave a talk to new recruits at the very first workshop, using material she gathered for her undergraduate dissertation.

Today (Wednesday 3rd July) Ameena and her colleague Anthony were kind enough to host a visit to the Archive's search room so that we could see some of the interesting artefacts relating to South Asian immigration in Bradford. A small number of photographs, posters and newspaper articles were selected by project manager, Yvonne Deane, and New Focus volunteer, Rameez Khawaja, for possible inclusion in the project's forthcoming publication and exhibition. While we were there Ameena also related how her own family had come to Bradford from Pakistan. She recently wrote a fascinating blog post for Leeds Museum Service's Secret Lives of Objects web site about the way that South Asian family jewellery can create a symbolic personal and cultural links between generations.

Getting started!

Our first workshop took place at the BEAP Centre in Manningham on Friday, 10th May 2013 and attracted 10 young people from the Manningham Youth Project and the Impression’s Gallery New Focus group. The event provided an important introduction to the project for the young members, who are going to be undertaking oral history interviews with a range of South Asian people from Bradford.

As well as learning about oral history interviewing techniques from workshop leader, Meena Jeewa, they debated the positive and negatives characteristics of Bradford, and came up with the names of really interesting South Asian people to interview. Celebrity names came high up the list – watch this space!!

Guest speaker was Ameena Mughal, from project partners, West Yorkshire Archive Service, Bradford. Ameena gave a fascinating presentation about the history of South Asian immigration in Bradford, based on her own academic studies.

Planning ahead

Dr Mohammed Salam, Chief Executive COEMO (left) and Sam Keighley, Board Member of COEMO and CEO of Action for Business Limited (right), celebrate receipt of the Heritage Lottery Fund grant. (Photo: Bip Mistry)

Every successful project begins with some intensive project planning and 'Changing Bradford' is no different. Over the past few weeks we have been busy appointing the project team, planning project publicity and making contact with our project partners - West Yorkshire Archive Service, Impressions Gallery, Manningham Youth Project and Grange Interlink Community Centre. Follow this blog to track the project as it progresses!