‘Blitz kids’ project lands £91,280 National Lottery support

A grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will ensure the memories of the last generation to remember the devastating German bombing that left nearly a tenth of Sheffield homeless will not be forgotten.
By Angela Furniss
Published 26th Mar 2024, 16:31 BST
Updated 26th Mar 2024, 17:49 BST
Blitz damage, The Moor, SheffieldBlitz damage, The Moor, Sheffield
Blitz damage, The Moor, Sheffield

The last survivors of the Sheffield Blitz – the air raids of December 1940 that killed and wounded over 2,000 people - are now in their very late 80s to 90s and recording their stories will be a key part of the project which has just been awarded £91,280.

The two year project, which is being run by the Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trust, will extend beyond the city’s boundaries to record the memories of people from surrounding towns that remember the attacks.

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A central part of the Sheffield Blitz 85th project will be the expansion of the popular Sheffield Blitz exhibition at the National Emergency Services Museum; the production of a new book with stories from ‘blitz kids’, and a series of educational and community engagement activities.

Blitz damage, High Street, SheffieldBlitz damage, High Street, Sheffield
Blitz damage, High Street, Sheffield

The project, made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, is set to offer a chance for the whole community to get involved through volunteer roles which will provide training in:

recording interviews

web design skills

research skills.

Neil Anderson of the Sheffield Blitz Memorial Trust said: “This project is incredibly important as it’s an opportunity to record the stories of people that were kids at the time of the blitz – the last generation that are still living. We're excited to bring the community together to commemorate this pivotal moment in our city's history."

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are proud to award this grant for an important project that will ensure the stories of the Blitz children are recorded and preserved for future generations. Thanks to National Lottery players, more people will learn about this significant moment in our history from those with first-hand lived experience.”

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Related topics:National LotterySheffield