East Renfrewshire residents are being asked to share their experiences of the coronavirus pandemic in a bid to leave a “shared legacy” for future generations.
An oral history project – Beyond 2020: Community Reflections – has been launched by East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure (ERCL) to build up a detailed picture of the impact that Covid-19 has had on the area.
Residents are also invited to reconnect with each other by taking part in library, arts and heritage activities as they reflect on how the pandemic has affected their life.
Amanda Robb, a local studies librarian with ERCL, told the Barrhead News: “The pandemic will shape and impact our society for many years to come.
“Beyond 2020: Community Reflections will allow people across East Renfrewshire to share their own lived stories of this significant event.
“We want local people to be at the heart of this project. We aim to gather community stories from people from all backgrounds and anticipate there will be a range of personal stories to be told – some of sorrow, loss and hardship but others of hope and resilience.
“Perhaps you were a frontline worker or furloughed, home-schooled your children or lived alone, enjoyed more time outdoors or changed something in your life as a result of the pandemic.
“If you’d like to share your experience, we’d be very keen to hear from you.”
Interviews and writing gathered through the project will also be the inspiration for a photographic exhibition which will travel around East Renfrewshire venues in the latter half of this year.”
The project is being supported by the Year of Stories 2022 Community Stories Fund, delivered by VisitScotland and Museums Galleries Scotland in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Those who take part can attend professional oral history training sessions on March 1 and 8, while creative writing workshops will also be available to encourage people to put pen to paper as they reflect on their experiences.
Anyone aged 18 or over who would like to share their story is asked to email artsandheritage@ercultureandleisure.org or call 0141 577 3872.
More details are online at www.ercultureandleisure.org/year-of-stories-oral-history-training.
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