Our heritage
Over 25 years we have generated an extensive and valuable archive of voice recordings and video interviews and have collected photographs and other artefacts kindly donated to us by the many individuals and communities we have worked with. This archive is an important regional heritage resource that we have a responsibility to protect, develop and share.
Oral history archive and photographic collection
Donnison School
We have also restored and renovated The Donnison School, a Grade 2 listed building in the East End of Sunderland (web link to map) which is now the home of the Donnison School Heritage and Education Centre where we conduct a significant part of our business.
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We also have a new base at the Elephant Tea Rooms Local History Library @ETR (link) in the centre of Sunderland for our oral history archive and from where we can also conduct some of our oral history activities once Covid-19 restrictions allow.
Our heritage
Over 25 years we have generated an extensive and valuable archive of voice recordings and video interviews and have collected photographs and other artefacts kindly donated to us by the many individuals and communities we have worked with. This archive is an important regional heritage resource that we have a responsibility to protect, develop and share.
Oral history archive and photographic collection
Donnison School
We have also restored and renovated The Donnison School, a Grade 2 listed building in the East End of Sunderland (web link to map) which is now the home of the Donnison School Heritage and Education Centre where we conduct a significant part of our business.
​
We also have a new base at the Elephant Tea Rooms Local History Library @ETR (link) in the centre of Sunderland for our oral history archive and from where we can also conduct some of our oral history activities once Covid-19 restrictions allow.
Our heritage
Over 25 years we have generated an extensive and valuable archive of voice recordings and video interviews and have collected photographs and other artefacts kindly donated to us by the many individuals and communities we have worked with. This archive is an important regional heritage resource that we have a responsibility to protect, develop and share.
Oral history archive and photographic collection
Donnison School
We have also restored and renovated The Donnison School, a Grade 2 listed building in the East End of Sunderland (web link to map) which is now the home of the Donnison School Heritage and Education Centre where we conduct a significant part of our business.
​
We also have a new base at the Elephant Tea Rooms Local History Library @ETR (link) in the centre of Sunderland for our oral history archive and from where we can also conduct some of our oral history activities once Covid-19 restrictions allow.
We Living History Northeast was established in 1995 as a regional specialist in oral history. In these 25 years we have worked with many different local and regional partners to engage with individuals, groups and communities, exploring their personal testimonies. For example we have captured oral histories from the coalmining and shipbuilding communities in the North East, the people who underpinned the UK economy for over 100 years. Our reach is broad and inclusive; we have worked with older people, black, Asian and minority ethnic groups (BAME) as well as people suffering with ill health like stroke and dementia sufferers, sharing in their experiences and giving them all a voice.
Our experience
We Living History Northeast was established in 1995 as a regional specialist in oral history. In these 25 years we have worked with many different local and regional partners to engage with individuals, groups and communities, exploring their personal testimonies. For example we have captured oral histories from the coalmining and shipbuilding communities in the North East, the people who underpinned the UK economy for over 100 years. Our reach is broad and inclusive; we have worked with older people, black, Asian and minority ethnic groups (BAME) as well as people suffering with ill health like stroke and dementia sufferers, sharing in their experiences and giving them all a voice.
Our experience
MAKING MEMORIES MATTER
Digital Centre for Oral History
Living History northeast
Our project partners
Katherine Lowe
Katherine is a specialist drama teacher delivering transformative arts experiences for health and intergenerational working. Katherine established Banyan Arts as a Community Interest Company in 2017 and works primarily with the Stroke Association and NHS England in the rapidly growing social prescribing services domain. Katherine has been developing innovative expressive art and wellbeing services for vulnerable people and their carers since 2013.
Damien Wootten - documentary photographer
Damien Wootten is a documentary arts photographer based in the North East of England who has been exhibiting his own and commissioned work regionally and internationally for over 30 years. Damien’s most recent exhibitions have included, ‘The Radical Road’ project at Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland and, ‘Close the Door on Past Dreariness’ at Newcastle Arts Centre, which documents the current homeless crisis in the UK. Damien also works collaboratively on community based projects where his ability to create visually arresting images makes a unique contribution to transformative approaches in health care and intergeneration settings.
North East Stroke Association
Seascapes
Sunderland Bangladesh International Centre
Newcastle University - oral history research department
The Stroke Association support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. They provide specialist support, fund critical research and campaign to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support to rebuild their lives. Living History North East have worked with stroke survivors and carers with the North East Stroke Association since 2014.
The SeaScapes scheme will deliver 23 projects – both on-shore and beneath the sea – from South Shields to Teesmouth over the next four years. Its partnership and community approach to protecting and celebrating this fascinating stretch of coastline will be the first of its kind in the UK. Focussing on the often-overlooked coast between South Shields and Seaton Carew. Seascapes – Tyne to Tees Shores and Seas (exploreseascapes.co.uk)
In 1999 the Sunderland Bangladeshi Community Centre was set up as an independent charity limited by guarantee and managed by a voluntary Board of Directors. The centre provides a range of activities to all sections of the local community, it is a friendly vibrant and inclusive centre which is open to all of the community.
The Oral History Unit & Collective at Newcastle University was launched in January 2018. Working across diverse academic disciplines, from creative arts to medicine, and in partnership with local history groups and community historians, our work explores the role of oral history in communicating the past in the present. The Collective's blog The Lug provides an online space to share news, events and reflections on current research.
