About Us
We offer an exciting new approach to involving communities in recording and archiving their stories for future generations. Volunteers will receive mentoring and practical training in recording and transcribing, becoming group facilitators and passing on what they have learnt to their own communities.

Making Oral History Fun
Being involved in oral history can also lead to a whole host of other activities such as artwork, drama, creative writing, music, sewing and collage. Oral history work can be a way of bringing those of different cultures and backgrounds together to learn about each other and celebrate similarities and differences.

Oral history is something common to us all, regardless of age - we all reminisce about the past. The past is what makes us what we are.

The value of oral history work lies in its accessibility to all. Through oral history projects people can come together to share their memories and experiences, make new friends, learn from one another, utilize old skills and learn new ones. Rainbow Lives will facilitate training programmes (both quantitative and qualitative) in the methodology and techniques of recording oral history testimonies.

Who Will be Involved?
We will involve minority groups who will be consulted and actively engaged, not just passive beneficiaries. Recordings will provide thematic compilations featuring traditional stories, poems, music, songs, social histories and personal experiences.

Rainbow Lives will aim primarily to involve minority ethnic groups in Fife who for many years have remained invisible despite these communities becoming truly embedded in Scottish life. Little has been recorded about the “hidden histories” of their lives. So the creation of a specific, user-friendly database is also on the agenda. The archive will provide an invaluable educational resource.

“Oral history gives history back to the people in their own words – and in giving a past, it also helps towards a future of their own making.”