Last week, we joined a meet up of the five UK First World War Engagement Centres which took place in the beautiful setting of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

The Engagement Centres are based in clusters of Universities across the UK and are designed to be hubs to support local community groups running commemorative First World War projects and to work with them to build new collaborative research projects. Check them out here

Voices of War and Peace, Birmingham

Everyday Lives in War, Hertfordshire

Centre for Hidden Histories, Nottingham

Gateways to the First World War, Kent

Living Legacies 1914-18, Belfast

The Engagement Centres are connecting with many of the projects using the Historypin First World War hub and we are working with them to support online and offline collaboration.

Here are some great examples of what’s happening so far. From past events such as a FWW roadshow, a talk on the Christmas truce of 1914 and a 1930s film screening of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ to future events such as ‘WW1 AND YOU’ – an interactive event to share stories and memorabilia and an exciting performance of ‘Oh What a Lovely War’ and much much more.

The meet up was a great opportunity to get together with everyone from the Centres, hear about the variety of activities so far and find out about what’s on the horizon. Keep an eye on Historypin and the Centres for more news.