The exciting project “The Home That Won The War”: An Inter-generational Project in Sunderland and led by the Friends of The Donnison School has been exploring Sunderland during The Second World War. The project will culminate on 5th October 2013 in a World War II event bringing together the sights, sounds and smells of war-time Sunderland.
The project has focused on Sunderland’s home front experience, providing opportunities for young and old to work together to re-create a Dig For Victory allotment scheme; a WWII re-enactment school learning programme.
The day will involve:
- WWII Sunderland Exhibition;
- Film Showcase of local and regional Prisoners of War;
- Rationing exhibition;
- World War II talk and fashion show;
- Collection of military vehicles;
- Spitfire simulator;
- Sounds of the 40s will be provided by Major Swing and Kitty;
- Beauty Bar;
- World War II Soup Kitchen;
- Stalls and lots more.
- A war time concert will commence at 7.00pm
- The event will take place at the Donnison School and Holy Trinity Church, Church Walk, Sunderland SR1 2BN.
All Our Stories, a brand new small grant programme, launched earlier this year in support of the BBC Two’s The Great British Story, has been designed as an opportunity for everyone to get involved in their heritage. With HLF funding and support, community groups will carry our activities that help people to explore, share and celebrate their local heritage.
The Friends of The Donnison School is based in the East End of Sunderland and supports a wide programme of community, educational and heritage events and activities based in the Donnison School and the East End of Sunderland. The Friends of The Donnison School is a voluntary organisation which provides opportunities for local people to get involved in celebrating our local heritage.
It has a programme of talks; guided walks; film and slide shows; open days; gardening projects; fetes; educational outreach projects; and a very active volunteer programme.
The programme and HLF All Our Stories has proved a real hit and now, “The Home That Won The War; An Intergenerational project, is one of the hundreds of successful projects around the UK to receive a grant. The Friends of The Donnison School will help local people explore and celebrate memories and experiences of those who lived in Sunderland during 1939 -1945.
Susan Spagnoli of The Friends of the Donnison said; “Keep Calm, Don’t Panic. Enjoy this innovative project celebrating the sights, sounds and smells of Sunderland during the Second World War. We love where we live and know there is so much more to discover about our past” We are all really excited about telling other people about our findings and sharing our heritage and history with them.”
Ivor Crowther, head of the HLF North East said “ Clearly the success of All Our Stories has reinforced the fact that we are indeed a nation of story tellers and that we want to explore and dig deeper into our past and discover more about what really matters to us. This is exactly what the grant will do for “The Home that Won The War: An Intergenerational Project, as they embark on a real journey of discovery”.
