Oral Historian

This project is funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) Museum Trustees with a total grant of just under £100,000. The project will explore the rich experience of armed forces families including the spouses, parents and children of military families. Through collecting a series of new oral histories and an extensive programme of research, we will improve and diversify our knowledge of the military history of Doncaster and the KOYLI. The voices of current and ex-military families will be amplified and secured for the future, making the regimental collection and Heritage Doncaster military collections relevant for wider audiences in the future. Armed forces families will also work with local artists and through regular sessions, create artwork(s) representative of their experiences.

A core part of this project is a programme of oral history collection. Through this project, we will upskill our staff and volunteers, improve our oral history processes and procedures and interview members of armed forces families. We are looking to engage a freelance oral historian to work with Heritage Doncaster staff on this project.

A fee of £4800 is payable for this contract. subject to Doncaster Council’s standard terms and conditions. The invitation to submit does not constitute an offer.

We would also be interested in hearing from oral historians who could provide on-site training in oral history skills in Doncaster for Heritage Doncaster staff and volunteers. This training delivery would be valued at an additional £1,500.

A separate equipment, materials and travel budget will be managed by Heritage Doncaster staff in partnership with the oral historian.