As I write this I realise you will be reading this as the height of Christmas preparations are underway, the new community library in Hamworthy is almost complete and the designer for the Living Histories will be being recruited to design our mobile multimedia display for you the community to enjoy.

At the moment we have actually had active input from over 0ne hundred and ten individuals. We have access to various artefacts, pictures as we find the need from within the community, with lots of different pictures etc already scanned to be used. Being a multi media exhibition we are really lucky to have many really interesting sound bites. The most exciting for me has been the spontaneous singing by a women’s group of a May Day song from their childhood in the 40’s.

This will be juxtaposed with a group of teenager boys who have developed a rap expressing how it feels to live here in Poole today. If this whets your appetite, so that you would like that exhibition to come to your group, building or organisation please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us as we would love to share these stories of ordinary peoples experience and thoughts about Poole and Hamworthy with as many people as possible. We’ve already got 10 groups who are willing to host the exhibition once it is ready. In case you’ve forgotten Living Histories is a multi media project with various strands, its overarching aim is:

To celebrate Poole and its diversity by exploring Poole’s Past, Present and Future as experienced by you, those who live, work, play or visit Poole.

This strand is a multi media exhibition of ordinary peoples memories, thoughts and ideas related to Poole and its development and includes pictures and memorabilia that people have shared with us through that story telling. If you would like to host that exhibition when it is developed then we would love to hear from you, our contact details are: 07908110121 or crcw@faithworkswessex.org.uk

One of the aims of Bridging Communities is to empower, support and enable people’s voices to be heard, the Living Histories project is one way we have tried to achieved that, another is the Shout Out. What is the Shout Out I hear you ask? How does it work? Well we start with a light meal and the chance to chat. Then we feed back information from our previous conversations at the last Shout Out Forum, What this actually means we invite organisations, groups to feedback helpful information in 5 minutes slots. Then we split into groups to discuss what we hope is a relevant issue, e.g. at the last Shout Out Wilts and Dorset came to ask what people felt about their bus service. We then finish by feeding back and giving everyone the chance to raise an issue for us to consider in the future. So if you have an interest in the Regeneration area of Poole, Old Town and Lower Hamworthy, then please join us at our next Shout Out at Skinner St United Reformed Church on Thursday the 14^th of January 2010 between 12.00-2.00pm.

If you want to know anymore about any of this please don’t hesitate to contact us as detailed above best wishes Alison Dalton, Church Related Community Worker

Are you interested in the changing face of Poole and Hamworthy? Would you like to learn more about Poole as it used to be? Are you interested in other people’s stories?

If you live or spend time in Poole Town or Hamworthy you may have heard about the Living Histories Project, which has recorded many people’s thoughts on life in the regeneration areas of Poole. The aim of the project is to celebrate Poole and its diversity by exploring its past, present and future as experienced by people who live, work and play here.

Throughout 2009 hundreds of stories were collected from the people who live, work or play in Poole Old Town and Hamworthy. In Spring 2010 these stories, plus some pictures and objects from local people, will be made into a touring exhibition.

Now the project is once again appealing for help with the next phase of the project – to document and index the material collected during the exhibition, and ultimately to help select material for the exhibition.

As a member of the Living Histories Group you will have an important role to play in helping to get a community-touring exhibition underway. You will help to index an archive of interviews with over 100 people. You will also help to select exhibition material, and get involved in developing the exhibition before its planned launch date in Spring 2010.

If you are a good listener, have good attention to detail and an interest in Poole Old Town and Hamworthy past, present or future then this group is for you.

The group will meet regularly at various locations around Poole Old Town and Hamworthy. Tea and cake will be provided!

For more information, contact Katie Gardiner on 01202 262607, or email: c.gardiner@poole.gov.uk.

Hi all, I know you’ve all heard loads about the Living Histories Project but here’s a gentle reminder as we will be stopping collecting the stories in September as we have to begin to collate the material and put the exhibition together. So if you’ve got a story to tell this might be you last chance so ring me so that we can arrange to record your story for posterity!

Perhaps you were aware of the Parkstone Passion Play earlier in the year? Maybe you went to Parkstone United Reformed Church and St Peter’s to see it? Or maybe you saw some of the cast dressed up at the Good Friday Service of Witness? It was such a success that the group are now hoping to move to the town centre for next year’s performance, so that it can grow even bigger and better.

So we need all sorts of volunteers to do all sorts of things to help us, thing such as:

▫ General helpers, to serve refreshments and care for our children and young people

▫ Actors, members of the crowd scenes, musicians,

▫ Video and photographic staff

▫ Administrators, and front of house staff (Programmes, bookings and publicity).

▫ Stage management (building sets, and control of props)

▫ Production staff, directing assistants

▫ Costume designers and assistants

It would great if you felt able to to be one of those volunteers, who knows you may even enjoy it!

And of course another quick reminder to bring your children or grandchildren along to the next Fun4Kids Spots in the middle of Poole High St., in the area near Chapel Lane and Hill St between 11.00am-3.00pm. on the 5^th of August, we hope to see you there!

If you want to ask anything about any of these events or projects, please don’t hesitate to give me a ring on 07908110121, best wishes Alison Dalton, Church Related Community Worker with Bridging Communities.