Hidden Heritages
One School, Many Stories
is an intergenerational oral history project that explores untold stories from the British South Asian community in Cambridgeshire. Led by Hadithi C.I.C, the project connects young people with local South Asian people, to preserve personal histories that have often gone unheard.
Through hands-on training in oral history interviewing techniques, and a Mentorship Programme, students at Sawston Village College are empowered to collect and share the experiences from those of South Asian heritage. These stories will be brought to life through two exhibitions, both co-curated by the students. A physical exhibition at the Museum of Cambridge will open in summer 2026, followed by a permanent digital exhibition.
Hadithi C.I.C will also co-produce a series of educational and digital resources for schools, communities, and the wider public.
Launched in Spring 2024, the project will run until December 2026. During this period, we provide students with valuable skills in oral history, as well as fostering well-being through intergenerational connection, whilst preserving voices from Britain’s history.
Hidden Heritages: One School, Many Stories builds upon Hadithi C.I.C’s 2022 project, Hidden Heritages in Cambridgeshire, thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s generous support.
Our Legacy
Hidden Heritages: One School, Many Stories builds upon Hidden Heritages in Cambridgeshire, a 2022 community initiative that celebrated the untold stories of South Asian migration, identity, and belonging through the voices of local South Asian people.
Through intergenerational oral history interviews, led by young South Asian women, training in oral history techniques, a community event, a short film and family brochure album, the project preserved powerful histories that might otherwise have been lost. Today, One School, Many Stories continues that legacy, by widening participation through bespoke training for school children in oral history techniques, and by connecting new generations to the past.
Exploring Heritage, Building Confidence
A Participant's Perspective“Taking part in Hadithi’s Hidden Heritages project was a pivotal experience for me, not only enriching my history knowledge beyond A level studies, but making me feel more connected to my South Asian background. Maya’s enthusiasm towards oral history created the perfect environment for me to develop my own interviewing skills, and by producing my own oral history interview I became immersed in my local community’s stories of immigration and belonging. This equipped me with the confidence to explore my own heritage further, and also to go on to study History at university.
Thanks to this initial experience with Hadithi, my passion for South Asian history has grown, and I am now centering my final year dissertation on South Asian oral histories.”
Our Supporters and Partners
Hidden Heritages is made possible because of our partners and our funder The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Hadithi C.I.C.
Museum of Cambridge
Cambridgeshire Archives
Sawston Village College
With thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Hidden Heritages: One School, Many Stories is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to train Young Historians in oral history techniques to preserve stories of South Asian heritage in Cambridgeshire.