DEVON’S multicultural history is being explored in a new project and volunteers from Okehampton are needed to help find out people’s stories in the town.

The project ‘Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots — Devon’s Multicultural History’ is being delivered by Devon Development Education in Okehampton, Bideford and Tiverton and is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The project will look at black, Asian and minority ethnic stories within the town, including people coming from Europe.

This might include stories of black GIs stationed here during the Second World War or the more recent stories of people coming here to live, work or seeking refuge.

Devon Development Education is looking for eight volunteers from Okehampton to help with the project, which will involve researching, interviewing people and storytelling and will culminate in community events to share the stories discovered.

Full training will be given and Laurel Miller, community heritage coordinator in Okehampton, will help throughout.

Laurel said: ‘We are really excited to be able to explore some of the stories that we know are here but haven’t been shared before.

‘For hundreds of years people have arrived in Okehampton looking for work or seeking a new home.

‘As part of the project we’ll be exploring some of the stories that people can still remember as well as the stories that we can only get from the archives.’

Devon Development Education is an education charity, which works with schools and communities, aiming to help children and people of all ages to understand the big issues in the world and their involvement with them; make links with the ‘global village’ within and outside Devon and work together for a more just and sustainable world.

There are a range of opportunities for volunteering so get in touch to see what suits. the project is also looking for people who would like to share their own stories of living and working in Okehampton.

Anyone who would like to volunteer, or tell their story, can contact Laurel at [email protected]