Culture And Memory

Unheard Leeds - Social Histories Connected

Our project, Unheard Leeds, preserves and shares the rich but often overlooked social heritage of three marginalized groups in Leeds: older LGBTQ+ people, people seeking asylum, and women who are unpaid carers and parents. This is an oral histories project that captures lived experiences and stories that reflect wider historical change over the past 50–75 years in Leeds, including shifts in migration, gender roles, LGBTQ+ rights, and community cohesion. By recording personal testimonies and connecting them with local historical events and movements, we will create a living archive of local social history. Through creative methods, formal archiving and public performances, we will make this heritage accessible to the wider community, ensuring these important narratives are valued, preserved, and celebrated.