Historic England is looking to discover stories about working class people in Southampton throughout the years.

The public body wants to hear from community and heritage organisations as part of the ‘Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories’ project, which aims to further the nation’s collective understanding of the past.

Launched last year, the scheme has already supported 57 projects, celebrating fascinating untold stories from across England.

Applications open this morning and close on 7 November 2023.

The projects funded last year included finding and commemorating psychiatric patients from five hospitals in Epsom.

The patients passed from 1899 onwards and would not have been recognised and given their respects had Historic England not set up this idea.

In West Sussex, a project was launched to record match chants and songs for Littlehampton Town Football Club's 125th anniversary.

Sean Curran, Head of Inclusion at Historic England, said: “We are delighted to announce further funding through our Everyday Heritage Grants: Celebrating Working Class Histories. Heritage is all around us but often the stories of ordinary people and places aren’t included in the archives and memories of their extraordinary impact on history fade away."

Castles, cathedrals and grand country houses are well documented but far less is known about ‘everyday heritage’ – the pubs, factories, football clubs and council estates where most people have lived, worked and played for hundreds of years.

The grants to be applied for range between £1000 - £25,000.

This means that they aim to not only support larger projects, but also smaller grassroots projects.

Historic England says 'each project should enable people to share untold stories about the places where they live, encouraging communities to examine and tell their own stories in their own ways'.

"The projects selected will contribute positively to participants’ wellbeing, as well as providing innovative volunteering opportunities.

"Local heritage gives people a sense of pride in place and can act as a powerful catalyst for increasing local opportunities and prosperity."

 For more information visit https://historicengland.org.uk/everydayheritage/