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.

The project has worked 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 interviewed 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 stories will be shared through a touring pop-up 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 2026.

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.