A PROJECT to capture the oral history of St Richard’s Hospice since its set-up in 1984 has received £10,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

‘Thirty years of memories’ aims to record the recollections of key figures including the hospice founders, clinical staff, families, volunteers and decision-makers who brought the charity’s vision to a reality.

It will collect and share digital recordings, photos and documents charting the development of St Richard’s from small beginnings around a kitchen table in Droitwich to the centre for palliative care it is today.

Mark Jackson, chief executive of St Richard’s Hospice, said: “It’s wonderful that we have been awarded this grant and we can’t wait to get started.

“We have been celebrating our 30th anniversary this year and this project will help us mark such a significant milestone in the history of St Richard’s care.

“We will have a unique set of recordings which will ensure that the extraordinary stories of our history are saved for the future.

“St Richard’s was at the forefront of the hospice movement and this project will also record the changes in attitude towards care for the dying amongst the medical profession and the public during that time.”

Reyahn King, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, which supported the project through its Sharing Heritage grant scheme, expressed delight at St Richard’s funding success.

She said: “Sharing Heritage is a wonderful opportunity for communities to delve into their local heritage and we are delighted to be able to offer this grant so that ‘30 years of memories’ can embark on a real journey of discovery.

“Heritage means such different things to different people and Heritage Lottery Fund’s funding offers a wealth of opportunities for groups to explore and celebrate what’s important to them in their area.”

The St Richard’s project will be led by a professional oral history specialist with the help of a team of volunteers.

For more information visit strichards.org.uk