Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Inverclyde’s Legacies of Slavery
We're delighted to have been granted funding by the National Lottery Heritage Fund for our Inverclyde's Legacies of Slavery project. This 2-year project will involve 1) developing a storybook and holding a night at the museum among the world collections with care experienced young people (in partnership with Proud2Care, Magic Torch Comics, and Inverclyde Council), food heritage volunteer workshops and recipe development (in partnership with Empower Women for Change and the Trust Zero Waste Community Pantry), creating a heritage trail (with volunteers, local walking and cycling groups and Inverclyde Council)and holding a remembrance event (including Inverclyde Voices singing spirituals sung in Greenock by the Jubilee Fisk Singers (formerly enslaved) in the 1800s), guided walks, storytelling, performances and more, all in relation to the legacies of enslavement locally. This project aims to address Inverclyde’s involvement in the transatlantic trade of enslaved people, in light of the Black Lives Matter movement and recent moves to decolonise Scotland’s heritage.
We'll be announcing more details, events and volunteering opportunities soon.
FAQs
What is this project about?
The project explores Inverclyde’s heritage in relation to the legacies of transatlantic chattel slavery.
Why are you focusing on transatlantic slavery?
The Trust has been exploring local social history and its ongoing impact for over 20 years. With this project we are responding to the rise in local and national interest in Scotland’s connections to slavery, and want to support local volunteers to help our community engage with those legacies in Inverclyde
Who is funding this project?
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
What kind of things will the project do?
The project will create volunteering opportunities, with local people developing heritage interpretation skills and shaping the way we understand these legacies; through community food heritage workshops and by developing a heritage trail for the community and visitors. The project will also involve care experienced young people developing a storybook on Inverclyde’s legacies of slavery and having a night at the museum, where they can explore the collections for themselves. Finally, we will hold a remembrance event where those involved in the project can showcase what has been learnt. This will include music, food, guided walks, storytelling and more.
Who is involved?
The Trust will partner with fantastic community organisations including Proud2Care, Magic Torch Comics, Inverclyde Council, Greenock Zero Waste Community Pantry, Thistles and Dandelions, local walking and cycling groups, Inverclyde Voices, and others. We’ll be overseen by a steering group which will include community members and organisations, and the Trust is working with the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights, BLM in the Stix and the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies to help us make sure our project promotes racial equality.
Can I get involved?
Yes, to find out more, or if you would like to get involved, please contact Trust Volunteer Coordinator Saskia McCracken saskia.mccracken@the-trust.org.uk. You can also follow @trustinverclyde on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
