Volunteer Training for the 100 Year Heritage of Walsall Deaf Community Project

On 18th October 2024, we had the pleasure of welcoming seven volunteers to the first training session on the 100 Year Heritage of Walsall Deaf Community project. This project is made possible thanks to National Lottery Players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The day began with introductions, bringing together volunteers from diverse backgrounds, all united by a shared passion for the Deaf community and its heritage. With an exciting year ahead involving archival research, community consultations, and storytelling, this session laid a foundation for what promises to be a fulfilling journey. 

Led by Robyn Swannack, Zebra Access’ 100 Year Heritage of Walsall Deaf Community Project Officer, and Deirdre Maguire, Zebra Access’ Community Liaison Officer, the volunteers covered: 

• Induction 
• Interviews including conducting effective interviews, addressing accessibility needs, ethical considerations, and practising interview scenarios
• Logistics including what to do before, during and after events 
• Outreach including how to network, build connections and engage the community with the project

In a session led by Ian Gray, an archivist from Walsall Archives, the volunteers gained some experience with archival materials. They explored:

• Archival storage including proper storage techniques such as temperature-controlled environments and waterproof boxes
• Equipment including various tools such as digital scanners for microfilm 
• Newspaper indexes to access and locate relevant articles 

The volunteers will take on various roles in the project, including interviewing community members, conducting outreach, performing archival research, filmmaking, and administrative tasks - all based on their preferences. Their contributions will be instrumental to the project and will have a meaningful impact on the Walsall community. 

A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who participated!

Ian Gray from Walsall Archives said “The experiences of the deaf community in Walsall are often unrecorded or hidden in official records, so Walsall Archives are proud to work with Zebra on the ‘100 Year Heritage of Walsall Deaf Community’ project to begin the process of addressing this.  We really enjoyed working with the volunteers who attended the workshop, and hope that the experience from this will help with preserving and documenting the history of the community for years to come.”

If you’d like to get involved or stay updated on the project’s progress, keep an eye out for updates or email Robyn at robyn@zebra-access.com. 

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About Zebra Access:
Zebra Access is a truly Deaf-led charity recognised by the Deaf community as dedicated to developing opportunities for Deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people to have better chances in life and enjoy equal participation and access without communication barriers, providing access to a range of activities enabling Deaf people to have self-belief and confidence to achieve their aspirations by breaking down perceived barriers. Zebra Access aims to promote and advocate healthier lifestyles by raising and improving awareness of available activities and other health choices. We have pioneered effective ways of working with Deaf people providing fully accessible services to provide Deaf customers with holistic and empathetic support via our experts-through-experience members of staff and volunteers.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund: 
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.