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Miscellaneous documents

Reference: D/X 1755 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Creating Community Archives project

Covering Dates: 2010

Access: The majority of records in this collection are closed for a period of 30 years in order to protect the identities of the young offenders involved in the project.

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Catalogue Description

The 'Creating Community Archives' project took place January - March 2010, and was a joint initiative between Safe Ground (an education arts charity); the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA); Durham County Record Office; Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections and HMYOI Deerbolt in conjunction with the Manchester College.

The project centred on the theme of World War 2 and used archives from this period to bring together a group of young offenders from HMYOI Deerbolt and a group of older adults from the Barnard Castle Luncheon Club.

The project included live presentations at HMYOI Deerbolt for the offenders' families and for the older adults and selected guests, including representatives of the various partner organisations.

Further information on the project can be found on the exhibition screen copies, see D/X 1755/1.

Catalogue Contents

Creating Community Archives Project (Ref: D/X 1755)Exhibition (Ref: D/X 1755/1)

Copies of exhibition screens describing the project and showcasing offenders' work, March 2010
(6 papers, printed)

Reflections by Young Offenders on 'objects with meaning' (Ref: D/X 1755/2)

Some of this work was included in the exhibition and some was not. Some is factual and others are the offenders' responses to the project and the issues raised by it.


Work by Anthony, including letter of thanks to one of the older adults who visited the prison and a short prose piece entitled 'Rationing in Prison', March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(2 papers)


Work by Ashley, including reflections of his experiences taking part in the project and poem entitled 'War is Dead' ['Dead' is street slang for 'not good'], March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(2 papers)


Work by Ben, including reflections of his experiences taking part in the project, notes regarding evacuation and rationing, and poem entitled 'Cell Mate', March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(8 papers)


Poem by Bradley entitled 'My World War 2 story', February 2010 [Access restricted for 100 years]
(2 papers)


Notes by Matthew regarding the Home Front, weapons used during the war and gas masks, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(12 papers)


Thoughts by Robert regarding evacuation and separation, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(1 paper)


Work by Tom, including a poem entitled 'The Thousand Yard Stare', artwork, thoughts on troops going to war and quote from him regarding the project, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(4 papers)


Poem by Warren entitled 'Prison and War', March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(2 papers)


Artwork by unidentified young offender, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(1 paper)


Untitled poem about the project by unidentified young offender, March 2010
(1 paper)

Young Offenders' work for the exhibition (Ref: D/X 1755/3)

As part of the project, young offenders were asked to choose an object or possession that had special meaning for them. This played a key part in their interaction with the older adults who visited the prison.


Reflections by Ben on his chosen object, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(1 paper)


Reflections by Jafar on his chosen object, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(2 papers)


Reflections by Tom on his chosen object, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(1 paper)

Worksheets completed by Offenders (Ref: D/X 1755/4)

Worksheets entitled 'Session 3 Cell Work', asking offenders to reflect on their work that session, February 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(10 papers)


Worksheets entitled 'Working towards the Exhibition and Presentation', asking offenders to reflect on what they enjoyed about working towards the exhibition and presentation, March 2010 [Access restricted for 30 years]
(22 papers)