Do you have a story to tell?

Have you discovered that your house was once the village shop? Or recently found a great aunt with an interesting life-story? Maybe you have donated some old photographs of local importance that you happened to come across whilst decluttering your attic? Or perhaps the research and guidance you received from staff in your archive service has helped with your studies?

Whatever your story might be archive services in Wales want to hear from you!

If you have used a Welsh archive service and discovered something that changed your life or have been inspired to find out more about your family or local history then this is your chance to win £100 simply by telling us your story.

Huw Lewis, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage says “Archive services play a vital role within the communities they serve and are a treasured resource for cultural and educational purposes. By collecting your stories this campaign will recognise the essential value that archives can add to the national life of Wales ensuring the past is available for the future.”

Russel Hill spent three months at Glamorgan Archives in Cardiff on a CLOCH (Conserving Local Communities Heritage) programme aimed specifically at young unemployed men from South Wales, he said: “Not only did it feel great to be doing something I was interested in, the learning experience we received was excellent. We spent time researching local history, digitising records, undertaking community engagement and the whole experience has made a huge difference to my confidence and ability both professionally and personally.”

One archives user from Denbighshire said: I wanted to learn more about the transportation of convicts to Australia, so I visited Denbighshire Archives in the hope of finding out more. I was excited to find information about the last convict to be transported in 1868. I visited Australia in 2012 and even met one of the convict's descendents in Sydney and shared my research with his family. I plan to continue my research using documents I found in Australia.

Some of the winning stories from across Wales will be brought to life in short films showcasing the variety of records, photographs and documents that can be accessed free of charge by your local archive service.

For your chance to win £100, contact your local archive service or visit archiveswales.org. Alternatively find Archives Wales on Facebook and Twitter.

Further Information

Elin Hâf, 01970 632534 post@llgc.org.uk