Final Project Blog

Over the last 20 months the Hidden Lives Remembered project has achieved so much and reached so many people. It has been fantastic to be a part of this project and to help make sure that this important part of our social history is not forgotten.

Some of our key achievements include:

Recording 23 new oral histories, preserving the memories of people for time to come;

Working with 17 volunteers and supporting them to learn key skills;

2 people with learning disabilities (Kathy and Jen) have gone on to get new jobs following on from their work on the project;

Speaking at the Open University’s Social History of Learning Disability Conference 2019 on the topic of “Institutions and Belonging”;

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Directly engaging with 350 people at our exhibitions and events, with the potential to have reached 1000s at our Final Exhibition at The Core Library;

Printing our final project book, creating a physical reminder of all of those previously “Hidden Lives” and as a keep-sake for everyone who has been involved in the project.

The surveys we have done with visitors throughout the project show just how heritage like this can encourage people to change their attitudes and beliefs about a subject.

93% agreed or strongly agreed they had learned a lot about heritage and the importance of recording people’s stories.

79% of surveyed visitors were encouraged to think about their attitude towards people with learning disabilities because of their engagement with the project.

55% were moved to make a change in the way that they think about people with learning disabilities.

This project is sadly now over, and institutions like Middlefield Hospital are now closed. However, many people with learning disabilities, even those living in the community, continue to be socially and physically isolated and are still lacking independence.

We have come a long way since the beginnings of institutionalisation but we still have some way to go. If all people with learning disabilities were included as equal members of society and supported to be able to fully participate in community life and to live as independently as possible, then organisations like Solihull Action through Advocacy would not need to exist.

What we hope this project demonstrates is the importance of listening to individuals and giving each person the ability to exercise self-determination and choice.

To get there we must start with a challenge to us all; not to simply treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves but to ask others how they wish to be treated as individuals and to listen to what they have to say.

So, thank you to the countless numbers of people and organisations who have supported us in doing this project over the past two years. Thank you to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for funding the project. We could not have achieved all of this without you!

You’ve helped us do our little bit to make the world a better place and ensure that Solihull’s “Hidden Lives” will not be forgotten.

It’s been a genuine joy and a privilege.

Claire

Heritage Project Coordinator