What is history worth?

Submitted by Fife a on

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Just asking. Was this Site Worth £96K?

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon. I imagine the figure has been obtained from the BBC article about the project site. The WWI Project cost £96k (this is a matter of public record, the HLF granted the money). But this pays for 1.5 years of time to include theatre plays (Nov 14), exhibitions (Aug-Dec 14, then touring 2015), research, volunteer expenses, community visits, lectures, partnership working, staff wages (1x full time.), pension contributions, building a world class digital repository that could serve the town and museum for many future projects...this site cost a small percentage of that grand total and is phase 1 of the WWI project. A full breakdown of the full project and its costs and time allocation is available, I imagine, via the HLF...They are an accountable body.

Three Luton libraries were

Three Luton libraries were closed this year to save money. I hope those people who were reliant on the library for internet access are really enjoying this site - and it's utter lack of representation of women's experiences during WWI.

Volunteer here

This project is separate from that. It is to honour the fallen of WWI, and the history of the town during WWI. If you feel something is missing re: women at war. Then you can add it yourself, that is why the team made the site crowd sourced. But I would like to point out that the stories of the women working at the Filling Factory at Chaul End are being compiled as we speak, as is the story of the nurses who gave their time voluntarily to nurse wounded soldiers at Wardown Park Museum. The project will run for years, and will keep on building until it paints a full picture of Luton's Great War.

Not council money!

Whilst I share your disappointment about the closure of libraries in Luton, this project is funded from a completely different source. I am glad that the people of Luton have the opportunity to record their own tribute to those who served or families who were affected by the Great War - both men and women. It is early days and I hope that over the next few months we will see a full picture of Luton in WWI emerge.