The funding will support “We Were Always Here”, a community initiative exploring the lives of LGBTQIA+ people in Wiltshire over the past two centuries.
The work will look at social history from the early 18th century through to the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2014. Organisers say it will focus on the everyday experiences of those who lived through criminalisation, discrimination and later legal reform.
The project is being delivered by Swindon & Wiltshire Pride. It will involve historians, community researchers and volunteers working to uncover stories that have largely gone undocumented.
Plans include a travelling exhibition for schools, libraries and community venues. A concise illustrated history book will also be produced and distributed free to senior schools, colleges and libraries across Wiltshire.
The exhibition will eventually be permanently based at the Pride Hub in Swindon town centre. Online historical resources will also be made available through the charity’s website.
James Fraser, Vice-Chair of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride, said:
“We’re excited to be able to start work on ‘We Were Always Here’. This is an important project which will help us uncover and preserve the hidden history of the LGBTQIA+ community in Wiltshire. Thank you to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for helping make this possible.”
A central element of the research will involve gathering first-hand accounts from older members of the community who lived through periods when homosexuality was criminalised or heavily stigmatised.
Kate Parsons, the project’s heritage interpretation design lead, said:
“We hope very much to hear from people who were in, or around, the LGBTQIA+ community before homosexuality was partially decriminalised in 1969. Members of the community who were adults before the legal change will now be around 80 years old, we’d like to capture these stories and experiences before those voices are lost.”
To deliver the programme, the charity is recruiting for several paid positions, including a project coordinator, oral history coordinator, heritage interpretation creators, a project evaluator and a PR consultant.
Volunteers are also being sought to assist with historical research and the collection of personal accounts.
The initiative will be delivered in partnership with Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre and Swindon Local Studies Library.
Swindon & Wiltshire Pride was established in 2008 and became a registered charity in 2019. The organisation is also preparing for its annual Pride festival, due to take place at GWR Park in Swindon on 15 August 2026.
