UCLan Students’ Union launches Heritage Lottery Fund supported project
UCLan’s intriguing history is being brought to life following the launch of a student project backed by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.
UCLan Through the Ages is an exciting new 18 month-long project based at the UCLan Students’ Union (SU) which aims to explore UCLan’s history and connection with the city, local community and the wider Lancashire area through student led activities, heritage events and volunteering. The UCLan SU has secured £49,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund Young Roots programme for the initiative. It is going to make the invisible history of UCLan and Preston visible.
Working in partnership with the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, the Union will hold a variety of exhibitions and workshops looking at how the city has changed, examining how political activism has shaped the city, with additional help from the People’s History Museum in Manchester, and uncovering local stories. These free and fun heritage events very much have the wider community in mind so that local people and students can share and celebrate Preston’s rich local history together.
"This project will create exciting new ways for our UCLan students to connect with the history, heritage and communities of Preston and the wider area."
Activities will include historical tours of the city, educational workshops and exhibitions as well as holding a photography competition and developing a ‘UCLan through the ages’ local history app for mobile phones. The aim is to make students and the community more aware of Preston’s fascinating history and allow them to develop new skills.
The project was officially launched at an event on campus called UCLan: Unveiling a Hidden History. Guests were invited to take a selfie with a UCLan founder, try fashions from UCLan’s past and contribute their history to a UCLan Timeline. Traditional Lancashire food was also available to sample as the project team encouraged people to share ideas for the initiative.
Student Union President Josie Linsel commented: “This project will create exciting new ways for our UCLan students to connect with the history, heritage and communities of Preston and the wider area. I can’t wait to see what the students achieve.”
To find out more about the planned events over the next 18 months contact UCLan Through the Ages on its social media pages, on Facebook and @UCLanHeritage on Twitter, or email with any thoughts or ideas.
