oral history toolkit launches to help young people record troubles experiences

Our Stories: Spoken, Recorded, Remembered brings together the expertise of renowned oral historian Professor Chris Reynolds of Nottingham Trent University with the experiences and perspectives of young people. 

The concept was developed by Professor Reynolds, whose extensive work includes the Voices of Conflict and Peace project that has seen the development of both the Voices of ‘68 and Voices of ’74 exhibitions. This close and ongoing collaboration with National Museums NI explores memories and experiences of the Troubles/conflict with oral history at its core.

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Working with the Commission for Victims and Survivors and the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, young people helped shape the toolkit into a practical resource for use by young people in formal and informal education settings. The Commission also supported the development of the resource, including its design and production. National Museums NI supported the launch at the Ulster Museum on 1st October, bringing an important educational and heritage perspective.

The toolkit also supports the aims of The Executive Office’s Strategy for Victims and Survivors 2024–2028, which commits to developing formal and informal education programmes to enhance knowledge and mutual understanding of the impact of the Troubles/conflict. Its launch is particularly timely as the Department of Education consults on its proposed Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028 through TransformED.

The toolkit offers a practical way for young people to engage sensitively with lived experiences of the Troubles/conflict through testimony, listening and conversation.

Commissioner for Victims and Survivors Joe McVey said:

“Understanding our past is an important part of building a better future. As we consider how future generations will learn about the Troubles/conflict, we also need to consider how the lived experiences of those directly affected can form part of that understanding.”

“Oral history allows young people to hear the human experience behind our history – to listen, ask questions and understand how events continue to affect individuals, families and communities.”

“The launch also comes amid wider discussions around legacy, remembrance and memorialisation, where oral history continues to have an important role in recording and preserving experiences of the Troubles/conflict.”

Professor Chris Reynolds of Nottingham Trent University said:

“I developed this toolkit out of my collaborative work with National Museums NI, where oral history has been central to exploring the legacies of the past. Through this project, I was struck by the enthusiasm, capability and willingness of young people to engage with these histories and become part of wider conversations about how the past is understood and remembered.

Of all the strands of my work in this area, this project is perhaps the one that fills me with the greatest sense of positivity and hope for the future. Equipping young people with oral history skills creates new pathways for this work to reach wider society and empowers a new generation to contribute to building a sustainable peace.”

Young people aged 14-25 who helped create the resource took centre stage at the launch, introducing the toolkit and demonstrating how it can support conversations across generations. Designed for young people aged 11 and over, the toolkit was shaped by the perspectives of the youth panel.”

Natalie Corbett, Interim CEO, Northern Ireland Youth Forum said:

“We are incredibly proud of the young people who have been at the heart of this work. They have engaged with difficult conversations about our past with real thought and respect.

It was important to us that young people were not simply consulted but had a lead role in shaping this resource. Their contribution has created something that other young people can now use to explore our past and understand its impact today.

Young people should have a voice in how our past is remembered. This toolkit puts that belief into practice and shows the value of putting young people at the centre of this work”.

William Blair, Director of Collections at National Museums NI said:

“National Museums NI welcomes the launch of this important Oral History Toolkit, which builds on our longstanding collaboration with Professor Chris Reynolds in advancing oral history and memory work. Through our Troubles and Beyond programme at the Ulster Museum, we are committed to creating spaces where diverse experiences and perspectives can be explored with empathy, respect and understanding.”

“We also recognise the vision and commitment of the Commission for Victims and Survivors and the Northern Ireland Youth Forum in bringing this valuable resource to fruition. Their leadership and partnership have helped create a toolkit that will support meaningful dialogue, deepen understanding of our shared past, and help ensure that diverse voices and experiences continue to inform how we understand our past and shape our future.”