Project News

• The website continues to be an integral part of the curriculum for students at the University of Cumbria (previously St. Martin's) training to work with people with learning difficulties.

• Both the Open University's Social History of Learning Disability Research Group, (of which the website co-ordinator is an active member - currently doing an Open University PhD on the closure of the Royal Albert), as well as the University of Cumbria, are looking at the long term sustainability of the website.

• Unlocking the Past persists in prompting a range of enquiries - including academic researchers, groups wishing to set up similar projects and families pursuing relatives, particularly those who were hidden away and forgotten.

• During the autumn of 2007 Unlocking the Past's exhibition, a collaboration with Lancashire Museum Service, ran for three months at Lancaster City Museum and was one of the best attended museum events for years.

• As part of their studies, students from the St. Martins College's School of Nursing and Midwifery, the University of Lancaster 's History Department, the Adult College and Central High School, Lancaster are acting as volunteers on the project.

• The project has just completed a piece of work with Lancaster Central High School, St. Martins College and 2 former hospital residents. More details to follow, including some of the Year 9 pupils' work.
  
  
• The Lancashire County Museums Service will put on an exhibition of the project's work in Lancaster City Museum later this year, running from late September to late December .
  

• The website and archive is still work in progress and we welcome any comments  (good or bad) which can help its long term development.