We are currently working on a new oral history project with the Common Room of the Great North (formerly the Newcastle Mining Institute) that looks at the past, present and future of engineering in the North East of England. Interviews with current engineers, trainers and local businesses will investigate and assess the changing nature of engineering. This will add to the new oral history archive at the Common Room and contribute to a public exhibition when the building reopens in 2021.

Visit the Common Room of the North's website here. 

Sunderland Maritime Heritage is a registered charity dedicated to preserving the shipbuilding skills and history of the city of Sunderland. Visit the Sunderland Maritime Heritage website here.

The Oral History Unit recently produced a public history website on shipbuilding in the North East called We Made Ships. Read more about the project here. 

In 2019, we hosted Bob Davis (company director) and Martin Spence (former producer), two original members of Trade Films, whose work formed the basis of the original North East Film Archive (NEFA). Two of the original Trade Films productions were commissioned by Tyne & Wear County Council in 1984 as part of the Save our Shipyards Campaign. Bob Davis accompanied us on a visit to the North East Film Archive where he provided important insights into Trade’s collection. Members of the unit and collective are planning to take this project forward in partnership with the NEFA. 

Visit the NEFA website here. 

Living History North East are a regional oral history centre, providing specialist training and services in oral history and reminiscence work. They operate a heritage and educational centre at the Donnison School which runs heritage, craft and educational events, activities throughout the year.

A member of our unit, Doctor Kath Smith, runs Remembering the Past which is a charity based in North Tyneside. Remembering the Past encourages older people to share their memories and life experiences and record them for the benefit of future generations. This pioneering work demonstrates the value of this kind of community engagement for individuals at risk of social isolation and loneliness.  

Visit the Remembering the Past website here. 

Foodbank Histories is a collaborative oral history project that has sought to gather the stories of the volunteers, users and staff connected to the Newcastle West End Foodbank. The research team includes member of the Newcastle Oral History Collective, working in partnership with local community arts organisation Northern Cultural Projects and the Newcastle West End Foodbank itself.

The Newcastle West End Foodbank began in the Church of the Venerable Bede, just one mile inland from what used to be the Vickers-Armstrong Elswick works, now the Newcastle Business Park. Now with two venues, the foodbank provides food parcels as well as hot meals (at the Benwell site) and a place to connect. A donation centre in the Grainger Market and regular match-day collections organised by the ToonAid group of Newcastle United football fans add to the network of connections between foodbank users and volunteers. Foodbank Histories collects and reflects back the stories of these connections: where people have come from; where they are going; and how these stories link with the bigger picture of food insecurity.

Read more about the foodbanks history project here.

Northern Cultural Projects is directed by Silvie Fisch, one of our Associate Researchers. The NCP started out as a disability arts organisation called 'Disability Cultural Projects (DCP)', but in 2011 was expanded to cater to a wider range of client groups. The OHUC and Northern Cultural Projects have worked in partnership on Foodbank Histories since the project's inception.