Living Together Oral History Project

Leicester has a positive reputation for its harmony and ability of many communities to live well together. We at the St Philip’s Centre are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and those who play the lottery, for funding a project that documents and preserves the experiences that lie behind the cohesion and community spirit of the city. The project celebrates the rich variety of cultures and experiences found within Leicester, while not shying away from difficult conversations where those are needed.

Leicester is a 'melting pot', and the interviews reflect this. Of the 103 interviews we recorded, roughly a third of participants were born overseas, a third were born in the UK outside Leicester, and a third were born in Leicester. The youngest participant was 18, while the oldest was 100 years old. People had a wide variety of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. We worked with neurodiverse individuals and those with a physical disability. The LGBTQ+ community is also represented.