Our Story – Fifth Word |

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About

Key Dates

Young Creatives

Oral History Contributors

FAQ’s

About

Made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Fifth word presents a youth-led intergenerational oral history project, capturing the stories, experiences and everyday life of Nottinghamshire’s trans and gender-diverse communities.

In partnership with Nottinghamshire Archives and supported by Mansfield Museum, My Place Youth Centre, and University of Loughborough, Our Story is a dynamic intergenerational creative heritage project celebrating the lives and experiences of trans and gender diverse people in Nottinghamshire. Our Story is made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We will work with LGBTQ+ young people – and their allies – from Mansfield, offering creative workshops and training in oral history, photography, film-making, and audio recording. Equipped with these new skills, participants will interview older trans and gender-diverse people across Nottinghamshire, capturing their personal experiences and stories of identity, resistance, joy, and community.

In collaboration with the young people, these interviews will be transformed into a podcast series of dramatised audio stories, written by a professional playwright. The stories will also be shared in a touring pop-up multi-media exhibition, featuring portraits and a sound installation.

The exhibition will launch at Mansfield Museum and Nottinghamshire Archives before touring libraries across the County in Summer 2025.

All recorded interviews and creative materials will be deposited in Nottinghamshire Archives so they can be accessed by future generations. By sharing these stories, Our Story will amplify trans and gender diverse voices and help ensure these histories are recognised, documented, and celebrated as part of Nottinghamshire’s shared heritage.

At a time when trans and gender-diverse communities are increasingly misrepresented or erased, this project will offer space for visibility and pride. Our Story will help ensure these vital voices are not just heard today, but also remembered tomorrow.

Key Dates

Our Story will run between October 2025 – August 2026. Here is a snapshot of what we are doing and when:

Key dates:

• Weekly Creative Workshops Delivered in Mansfield for Young Creatives November 2025 – January 2026 (Sign up by 10th November)

• Interviewing Oral Histories with Young Creatives & Trans-Historians across Nottinghamshire
February 2026 – March 2026

• Further Creative Workshops Delivered in Mansfield for Young Creatives
April 2026 – May 2026

• Exhibition Launch and Tour
Summer 2026

Young Creatives

Based in Mansfield? Identify as LGBTQ+?
Aged 16-19?*

*Up to 25 if you identify as having a disability and/or being Disabled

Join us for free creative workshops in oral history, photography, film, and audio storytelling.

You will get to learn new skills, meet new people, and help capture and celebrate the stories of trans and gender-diverse lives in Nottinghamshire.

The project will run between November 2025 – June 2026. Weekly workshops will take place in Mansfield with opportunities to take trips across the county.

Professional artists and practitioners will be facilitating these workshops. They all have experience working with young people and have an enhanced DBS.

We take the well-being of young people seriously. That means that the Fifth Word team will also be on-site at all sessions along with specialised youth workers and qualified wellbeing support.

Ready to get involved? register your interest below and we’ll be in touch.

Oral History Contributors

Are you trans or gender-diverse and living in Nottinghamshire?

We’re inviting adults of all ages and backgrounds to share their lived experiences as part of this project. Your experiences could become part of a podcast, exhibition, and public archive, preserving trans-history for future generations.

We recognise that there are massive gaps in our museums and archives when it comes to documented trans and gender-diverse histories. This project is part of a wider movement of making sure these stories, knowledge and wisdom are not forgotten.

Recording oral histories and making them available for future generations is a unique way of getting an insight into the lives and experiences of communities who are often left out of the history books.

Our Story is inviting you to become a trans-historian of your own story – become part of this powerful work as we build an archive of trans and gender-diverse histories.

Oral histories are fantastic but can feel exposing. Don’t worry, If you sign up, you will be in the driver’s seat of the process with the power to decide what you share and how you share it. We will be on hand every step of the way to support you.

You’ll get to meet and collaborate with the playwright who will be working on creating audio-dramas of the stories shared.
Ready to get involved? Click here to sign up and we will be in touch to arrange a chat to discuss the next steps.

Ready to get involved? Register your interest below and we’ll be in touch to arrange a chat to discuss the next steps.

FAQ’s

This project is for Young people aged 16–19* who live in or near Mansfield and may identify as LGBTQ+ or an ally. You don’t need any experience in photography, film, or oral history – just a willingness to get involved. * or Up to 25 if you identify as having a disability and/or being Disabled

No. We understand everyone is on their own journey and gender identity is fluid and potentially constantly changing. You also do not have to be publicly “out” as LGBTQ+ to join. Your privacy will be respected at all times.

An ally is someone who may not identify as LGBTQ+ themselves, but who supports and stands with LGBTQ+ people. This could mean that you are a supportive friend; speaking up against discrimination; learning about LGBTQ+ history and experiences; helping create inclusive and welcoming spaces. If you’re curious, respectful, and committed to equity, you’re welcome to join us as an ally.

The workshops are interactive and will be providing you with creative skills in: Oral history & interviewing, photography, audio storytelling, film-making and editing. At the end of the workshop series you will feel confident to interview and record our trans-historians. There will also be additional workshops in designing an exhibition and making a podcast – these will take place after the interviews and will be optional.

Workshops will take place weekly in Mansfield between November 2025 and January 2026. Exact location details will be provided once you have signed up. There may also be optional trips to other parts of Nottinghamshire where transport will be provided.

It is important to take part in all the workshops so that you are fully trained to interview the oral histories. However, we understand things come up and it’s not always possible. If you have to miss a session, let us know as soon as possible and we’ll work with you to make it manageable.

Anyone who is trans or gender-diverse, aged 18+ and living in Nottinghamshire, is welcome to take part.

That’s completely normal. You’ll be supported at every stage: You choose what you want to share We will share the interview questions with you beforehand You choose who interviews you You can stay anonymous (use a pseudonym, change your voice, etc.) A qualified well-being practitioner will attend the interviews to make sure that you feel comfortable and supported before, during and after the interview. You can bring a friend to support you

Interviews will be held in Nottinghamshire. We will decide the exact location together. You may want it to take place in a location that is meaningful to you.

We understand and respect if you want to keep your involvement anonymous and we can explore what this could look like with you; for example, you may want to use a pseudonym.

The oral histories will be stored in Nottinghamshire Archives and Mansfield Museum Archives, helping preserve trans and gender-diverse histories for future generations. Your interview could also become part of a podcast, sound installation, and/or the public exhibition. During your sign up process, we will discuss with you the different options so that you can be in control of how we share your contribution.

There may be other ways to be involved. Get in touch by email and we can see what is possible.

No! Everything is free. We may also be able to support travel costs or other expenses if needed.

We are committed to making this project as accessible as possible. Please let us know any access needs when signing up, and we’ll do our best to meet them.

Click the ‘Register’ buttons on this website page to express your interest, and we’ll be in touch for a chat to discuss next steps.

If you’re not sure whether this is right for you or just want to ask something before signing up, don’t worry, we’re happy to chat. Get in touch at info@fifthword.co.uk