York Civic Trust has launched a new community-led heritage project that aims to build a sense of belonging for residents.
Our Place: Acomb and Westfield is a new heritage outreach project inviting local people to explore, celebrate, and care for what makes their neighbourhood unique.
Working with residents, the project will uncover hidden gems, local memories, and untold stories, helping to build a stronger sense of place, pride, and connection across the communities of Acomb and Westfield.
It begins today (Wednesday 18 February) and is based at Acomb Explore Library.
The project responds to evidence showing that fewer people in the area feel a strong sense of belonging compared to the city average, and that local heritage is often overlooked in wider narratives of York.
Our Place: Acomb and Westfield launches in the Trust’s 80th year, and is funded with the help of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project is based at Acomb Explore Library, where an interactive installation will be in place from February to August. The Trust invites residents to head to the library to share memories, nominate meaningful places, and highlight the buildings, spaces, and stories they feel deserve more recognition and care.
The display will ask a variety of questions during its installation, starting with which buildings and places are important to the area’s residents.
Alongside the installation, there will be a programme of free community events throughout spring and summer, including creative workshops, guided ‘walkshops’, pop-up activities and community celebrations focused on local places and green spaces.
Later in the year, York Civic Trust will fund community-led heritage grants for projects in Acomb and Westfield that emerge as important during the first phase of the project. The initiative will also support the development of local heritage ambassadors, helping residents care for places they value beyond the life of the project.
Christina Henzel, heritage engagement officer at York Civic Trust, said: “Our Place is about understanding what is important to the residents of Acomb and Westfield. We’re working with locals to recognise everyday heritage, so shops, green spaces, streets, and memories. I am excited to talk to and meet residents during pop up workshops in the coming months.”
Andrew Morrison, chief executive of York Civic Trust, said: “This project reflects York Civic Trust’s direction of championing heritage that is informed by past, people, and place. Our Place values local knowledge and will shape how we work with communities across York in the future.”
Acomb and Westfield residents can take part in the project by heading to Acomb Explore Library from 18 February to share their views.
