The Women’s Voluntary and Community Sector (WVCS) grew out of the Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM) which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, 2020.

The contribution of the WVCS in advancing women’s rights is largely undocumented. Many of the women who were involved in setting up women’s organisations and campaigning for change are now in their late 50s and 60s. Their struggles and achievements have remained largely invisible. 

Our new project - Sisters Doing It For Themselves - will create a unique oral herstory archive, documenting the testimonies of current and past leaders.

This archive will illustrate the impact that the WVCS has had on the structural position of women, through campaigning and influencing. The archive will also provide insight into the impact on the lives of the women themselves as drivers of the movement.

Two London schools are involved in the project, where the pupils taking part will; learn about women's position in 1970s/80s; be trained to and conduct oral history interviews of women leaders; take part in feminist leadership training; identify and research local women leaders; and conduct a social action project.

Alongside this, we are collaborating with the Women’s Library’s Archives and Special Collections at the London School of Economics Library, to ensure an untold story is captured through archiving digital recordings, transcripts and photographs.

We are so excited about this project and to be honouring the women who have worked tirelessly to protect women's rights.

For details of who the women that will be taking this journey with us are, visit the project page. 

Thank you to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this project possible.