Keeping Our Stories Alive: A Community Archiving Starter Kit

Dates: Saturday 8th & Saturday 15th November 2025
Time: 1:30 pm start
Location: Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre & Education Trust, Central Library, Manchester
Tickets: Free — Book one or both workshops

Join us for two hands-on workshops designed to give you the tools to capture, preserve and protect our community’s stories for generations to come. Whether you’re a curious beginner, community organiser, artist, or family historian, these sessions will equip you with essential skills to record oral histories and prepare them for archiving.

Led by the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre & Education Trust, these workshops centre African, Caribbean and migrant narratives in Manchester, recognising the power of community-led archiving.

Saturday 8th November | 1:30 pm start

This session introduces the foundations of community archiving and the purpose of collecting oral histories. Learn why preserving our stories is vital, and gain practical skills in:

• Oral history theory and ethical interviewing
• Recording techniques and gaining consent
• Practising interview skills with guided prompts

Optional: 45-minute tour of the library’s digital exhibition space.

You’ll leave with: a deeper understanding of why oral storytelling matters and the confidence to start gathering stories from family, friends and community members.

Saturday 15th November | 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

This session focuses on what happens after you collect a story. Learn practical skills to prepare and preserve material for the future, including:

• Writing indexes and summaries from recorded stories
• An introduction to Audacity (or alternative) for basic audio editing
• Sensitivity reviews and data protection essentials
• Guided activities using short practice interviews
• Looking at real examples from African and Caribbean archives

📚 Optional: Mini tour of archive collections.

You’ll leave with: the confidence to handle recorded material responsibly and the practical skills to support community archiving efforts.

While each workshop can be attended separately, together they form a complete introduction to community archiving — from collecting powerful oral histories to preserving them for future generations. These are valuable, transferable skills that are rarely taught in one place, making this a brilliant opportunity for anyone passionate about community, culture and legacy.

What to bring: Yourself, a notebook and pen.
Who it’s for: Community members, educators, creatives, students, archivists-in-the-making, or anyone curious about preserving local history.
Cost: Free, limited spaces available, so booking is essential.

Rekindling Nello James is a year-long community heritage project celebrating the legacy of C.L.R. James, Caribbean culture, and the spirit of activism, creativity and care that defined the original Nello James Centre in South Manchester.

Through storytelling, exhibitions, workshops and live events, the project is collecting and preserving the voices, histories and experiences of local communities, ensuring they are archived for future generations to read, listen to and learn from.

These Community Archiving workshops are part of that mission, empowering community members with the tools and confidence to keep our stories alive.

Learn more at rekindlingnellojames.org

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Manchester Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester, United Kingdom

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