Freelance Project Researcher-Interpreter: African Stories in Yorkshire

We are pleased to offer a job vacancy for a Freelance Project Researcher/Interpreter for the William Wilberforce Monument Fund's African Stories in Yorkshire project, details below.

Details
Position: Freelance Project Researcher-Interpreter
Organisation: William Wilberforce Monument Fund
Location: UK, England, East Yorkshire
Closing date:  Friday 22nd July 2016
Job Type:  Freelance
Fee: £200/day, 2.5 days per week over a maximum period of 18 months.

The William Wilberforce Monument Fund is looking to hire a freelance researcher-interpreter to work on a new project to explore the presence of people of African descent in Hull and East Yorkshire from 1750 to 2007.  This project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It will culminate in a dedicated website and two exhibitions at the Hull History Centre and Beverley Treasure House. There will also be an oral histories element to the project supported by the James Reckitt Trust through Untold Hull.

This is a community project that will encourage everyone to participate. The position requires an ability to retrieve stories and information across a vast array of areas, from archival research through to personal recollections and community connections.

A keen interest in cultural heritage and research, with particular reference to diversity and the recognition of the historical presence of people of African descent in the Britain is essential. In addition the candidate should have excellent research and writing skills and particular practical experience of archival research and interpretation.

Fee

A fee of £200 per day for 2.5 days per week over a maximum period of eighteen months. This includes all expenses incurred by the post holder during the term of the contract.

Applications

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your experience. Please also include a sample of writing of around 500 words to demonstrate your writing skills.

Return your submission by Friday 22nd July 2016 by email to Mrs Gifty Burrows, wilberforcemonumentfund@gmail.com.

A full job description is available at http://www.africansinyorkshireproject.com/job-vacancy.html or contact Mrs Gifty Burrows at wilberforcemonumentfund@gmail.com.

William Wilberforce Monument Fund Awarded Heritage Lottery Fund Grant!

We are thrilled to announce that the William Wilberforce Monument Fund has been awarded a grant of £39,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are now able to begin exploring the stories of people of African descent in Hull and East Yorkshire from the Wilberforce era of the 1750s until 2007.

About the Project

This project is unique to this area and connects with this region’s strong historical association with William Wilberforce and the anti-slavery movement. It intends to demonstrate that an African presence in Britain is not a recent phenomenon and instead will recover stories from around the time of Wilberforce to the present day: 1750-2007. This important new website has been created to showcase the new stories and new research. It will enable and encourage everyone to participate in the collecting of stories of people of African descent by inviting people to view and submit information, ideas, photographs, essays and individual stories. We are also planning exhibitions at Hull History Centre in 2017 and Beverley Treasure House in 2018.

A Community Project: How can you get involved?

This project is community-driven and inclusive with the opportunity for any interested person to contribute to the outcomes. The charity welcomes the help and support of volunteers to engage in archival research in areas such as military history, education, fisheries, health, public services, entertainment and sport in the local area. This archive is of national importance because it will evidence Britain’s rich and diverse history. The project will also be of social and educational value and serve as direct support to the GCSE History curriculum.

We also welcome contact from anyone of African descent (African, Caribbean, American) who were living in the area before 2007 in order that we can collect contemporary oral recordings of stories for future generations.

If you can help with our research we would love to hear from you! You can contact us with information, images, ideas, suggestions and offers of help by going to the website for more details. Thank you.

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