Group Recovery Aftercare Community Enterprise (GRACE) was delighted to receive funding from Heritage Lottery to capture the experiences of people who have experienced traumatic events and the challenges and eventual healing that followed.
During the Covid 19 pandemic, GRACE members were determined to continue group activities and successfully created innovative ways of doing this, whilst also learning new communication and IT skills. They also discovered a deep desire to record their own life experiences, which led to GRACE’s successful application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the creation of ‘Reflections of Trauma, Challenges, and Healing: An oral history’. This intergenerational history project captures the history of mental ill-health caused by experiences of trauma, which can have devastating long-term impacts on the lives of individuals, families and communities.
GRACE members and volunteers were at the centre of this project throughout, which was coordinated by Rachel Kelly with assistance from GRACE staff. Some members were trained by Dr Sue Morrison, a professional oral historian, to interview their friends and neighbours; others shared their stories and memories with us; whilst others worked with Ian Bustard, Rikki Traynor and Rachel Toner to create the project film, stage events, or organise exhibition materials. Other individuals contributed their own artwork, creative writing or poems. Sue also worked with Mark Downey and Adam Stevenson to create the project website, and with Rachel Kelly to write and edit the project book. Thank you, all.
We are immensely grateful to National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Players, Oral History Research & Training Consultancy, Communities Past & Futures Society, and William Patrick Library for their generous support. Most importantly, we extend our deep gratitude to everyone who participated in this hugely successful project.
The film Funded by Heritage Lottery, this amazing video was created for the ‘Reflections of Trauma, Challenges, and Healing: An oral history’ project by talented artists Ian Bustard, Rikki Traynor and Rachel Toner, with the help and participation of the wonderful members GRACE. The film premier and art display was a success with members of the project attending the showcase of the final project.
At the premier project books where unavailable please now collect your copy of the published project book at GRACE Hillhead Community Centre Kirkintilloch or Auchinairn Community Centre Bishopbriggs.
