The Voices Project is about BME people sharing their stories and histories - where they came from, their journey here, bringing in the past and portraying its relevance in today’s society. They will also share their cultures, religious beliefs, experiences in their own countries, describe the transition period when they migrated to the UK for different reasons - these reasons will be revealed and explored and will most likely debunk myths about why BME communities migrate to the UK and settle in Norfolk.
They will also note the similarities and differences between the British way of life and their particular heritage. The project will encompass the last 50 years - with participants reminiscing about varying landscapes of Norfolk in the 1950’s, the ’60’s, the 70’s all the way to the last 5 years. The second generation immigrants and the succeeding generations and members of other communities will have a deeper appreciation of the cultures of other people, resulting in community cohesion and social inclusion. Norfolk is not as multi-cultural as other counties, but it is slowly changing. This project can help highlight that and the BME people will benefit from this by allowing their voices to be heard in the larger community.
The project will help to encourage BME communities to identify, look after and celebrate their heritage by involving them in the production of the films and the website capturing their oral histories.
The participants can use the project as a vehicle to introduce their cultural heritage to the larger community. BME communities will be reached out to and their voices will be heard, their stories shared, their identities shaped and established by themselves. Second generation immigrants will be able to resolve the conflict surrounding their cultural identities by acknowledging and understanding their ethnic origin and the culture they have adopted having lived in Norfolk for the most part of their lives.
People will be able to appreciate how Norfolk’s social landscape has changed over the last 50 years and gently and effectively introduce people to the fact that Norfolk is a county that is progressively becoming multi-cultural and that this is something worth understanding, accepting and celebrating.
The road show will increase access to resources and BME communities in both rural and urban areas. We will be publicizing this event using newspapers and the BBC Radio Norfolk to make people aware where the current film screenings and exhibits will be, as well as advertising on the websites of other voluntary organisations.
With the Norfolk Record Office, the Norfolk Sound Archive and the East Anglian Film Archive each holding a copy of the project, people then can also watch the films at their own leisure.
Working with Partners
The project will be run in collaboration with BBC Voices. BBC Voices will help us with the production of the films.
The final products will be provided homes by the Norfolk Record Office, the East Anglian Film Archive and the Norfolk Sound Archive. The Norfolk Record Office, the East Anglian Film Archive and the Norfolk Sound Archive will help us with the annotation and documentation of the project. The Norfolk County Libraries will ensure that we reach the widest possible audience by disseminating information and providing us space to mount our exhibits and screen the films for two weeks at each library.
Story Formats
People who would like to share their stories have several formats to choose from:
Written
People can write their stories and will be included in the collection of stories to be published at the end of the project. This format will also benefit those who are hearing impaired.
Audio
But if people prefer to be interviewed and record their voices, the audio format is available. Your stories will be recorded and burned on cd’s. This will benefit the visually impaired who would like to hear about your stories.
Digital
But if people have photographs and would also like to record their stories, then the digital story format is best suited. You first write a story, record your voice as you read it, and your film will be accompanies by your photographs.
Website
Selected stories will be uploaded to this website so that we may be able to reach a
wider audience.
If you would like to share your story and get started, then click here to download the form.