The Battle of Plassey Young People’s Project
The project will engage a group of young people (18-25) from diverse backgrounds to explore East London’s historical links with Bengal through researching and writing about the area’s East India Company sites. The context is the 250 Years Anniversary of the Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757), which was a decisive day in 1757 when the British achieved victory in Bengal under Robert Clive. It was also the beginning of the British Indian Empire, under the banner of the British East India Company. The research findings will be put together in a publication, which will be launched during October 2008 Black History Month at a specially organized event. An exhibition illustrating the work of the young people, historical paintings and photographs and important documents will accompany the publication. The work of the young people will be made electronically available and an education pack will be developed.
The young people will undertake research on a number of East India Company sites in East London, an area dotted with important locations and buildings that have historical links with Bengal. It is also the home of the largest concentration of Bangladeshi people in the UK. The 250 Years anniversary events of the British conquest of Bengal (organized by Brick Lane Circle during June 2007) provided a focus for generating interest in learning about the shared heritage of East London. The young researchers will be primarily recruited from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and given workshops, guided tours, mentoring support and assistance in writing their chapters. These activities will help familiarise participants about important East India Company sites and their historical links with Bengal and provide guidance on the sources of information.
Brick Lane Circle has secured funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver the project (April 08 – March 09).
For more details please email bricklanecircle@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07903 671 787.
Project Timetable
This is a draft plan. When we receive approval for our funding applications we will start making bookings – venue, speakers, etc. – and produce a final project delivery plan.
|
No. |
Activity |
Date |
|
1 |
Project Launch At the end of Brick Lane Circle’s annual seminar programme (January – April 08) we will organizing a networking and comedy evening on 10 April 08 as part of the celebratory completion of the seminars. This will be an ideal opportunity to launch the Battle of Plassey Young People’s project |
10 April 08 |
|
2 |
Publicity and recruitment This will include the production of an information leaflets, press releases and networking with relevant organizations and agencies. |
April – June 08 |
|
3 |
First Workshop at Whitechapel ideas Store This will be open to the public where the scope of the project will be explained and young people invited to participate. |
May 08 |
|
4 |
Battle of Plassey Anniversary Conference This conference will be open to the public where a number of guest speakers will provide context to the project by looking at East London’s link with Bengal, East India Companies activities and trade, focusing on the remaining East India Company Heritage in East London . This conference will also cover information on archives and sources of information for undertaking research in East End ’s past. |
June 08 (22 or 23 June) |
|
5 |
Recruitment Completed It is envisaged that by the end of June 08 the 8-10 young people will be recruited. |
End of June 08 |
|
6 |
Guided tours and workshops |
July – Aug 08 |
|
7 |
One to one mentoring The young people will be offered one to one mentoring. |
Aug – Sept 08 |
|
7 |
Soulfire Theatre Drama workshops |
Sept / Oct 08 |
|
8 |
Writing Each young person will be required to write about ten pages as part of their chapter on the publication |
Sept 08 |
|
9 |
Publication and launch event in Museum in Docklands The findings of the young researchers will be put together in a publication for launch during October 08 Black History Month. Soulfire Theatre will deliver a short play on the event. |
End of Oct 08 |
|
10 |
Exhibition and Education Pack Brick Lane Circle will work with Humanities Education Centre to develop an education and an exhibition on the project |
Nov 08 – Feb 09 |
|
11 |
Exhibition and Education Pack Launch The education pack and exhibition will be launched in early / mid March 09 and school teachers and children will be invited to visit and learn how to use the pack Soulfire Theatre will deliver a short play on the event. |
March 09 |
|
12 |
Forward plan and fundraising Brick Lane Circle will produce a forward plan and undertake fundraising to take the project forward beyond the scope of this project, in terms of exhibition tours, promoting the publication, encouraging and supporting schools / colleges and youth groups to use the education pack. |
Jan – March 09 |
Tags:
