Learning from History
ESPA College has been awarded a grant of £25,440 by The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting and innovative project in Sunderland.
The project, “An interpretation and educational project in Sunderland’s Old Parish Church (1719)” will focus on the history of Holy Trinity Church (known as Sunderland’s Old Parish Church). Students working with other community volunteers will develop and create new audio/video interpretations of Holy Trinity Church; new educational resources for school children and lots of opportunities to collect and record people’s experiences of this Church as it was once the heart of a thriving community.
ESPA will be working on the project with Living History (North East) and The Canny Space which aims to be completed by summer 2014. All of the work produced will be made accessible to the public at a celebration event.
The project will enable students to develop new skills and create new and exciting ways to encourage visitors to this Grade I listed site in Sunderland’s East End. The church dates from 1718-19 and boasts some unique architectural features and interiors. It is regarded with great affection by the local community.
There will be opportunities for people to volunteer from the community and take part in various heritage workshops, visit archives and become part of this exciting project.
Explaining the importance of the HLF support, the Head of the HLF in the North East, Ivor Crowther, said: “This is an excellent project for the young people of the North East. As well as the vast collection of skills they will develop, this in-depth look at their own dialect heritage will help give them a greater sense of identity”.
Students have decorated acetate sheets depicting scenes, characters and stories from the local area. These will be used to create a stained glass effect on the church windows. They have taken the opportunity to capture photographic images of the church and interview Living History (North East) volunteers and local residents.
A website blog of the project can be found at: www.livinghistoryne.wordpress.com