DROITWICH Library has received a £10,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to mark the centenary of the First World War.
The cash will enable children from four local schools to find out about what it was like to be a pupil 100 years ago and the library will be exploring what life on the home front was like from 1914 to 1918.
The project will focus on how families coped during the war, and what children did to help with the war effort.
Droitwich Library is setting up a First World War research group and its members will receive training and support from the University of Worcester.
There will also be a number of themed community events and library staff want residents who have family memorabilia related to the First World War and the Droitwich area to get in touch.
There will also be a jam-making competition and an exhibition to coincide on Armistice Day on November 11.
Droitwich Library manager Bev Orlowsky said: “It’s a fantastic chance to discover photos, documents and artefacts that might be lurking in attics and cupboards.
“Lots of research has been done on the troops who were fighting for their country, but there’s much less information on how the war affected people at home.
“We want to get the community and our school children involved in some detective work – How was Droitwich affected during these years? Did people’s roles change? What were the effects of food shortages and rationing? What did the town’s institutions do?
“It’s such an important part of the town’s heritage.”
School log books from 1917 and 1918 show children were paid to collect blackberries during the normal school day.
The fruit was taken to factories to be turned into jam which was then sent to troops on the frontline.
Youngsters from Hindlip, Tibberton, Ombersley and Wychbold First Schools have been learning about the Great Blackberry Pick and re-enacting the roles local children played.
The year three and four classes have been on trips to the Worcester Wildlife Trust’s headquarters at Smite Farm.
They have also been studying First World War recipes, creating their own blackberry jam and learning about food shortages and preserving techniques. Information gathered during The Great Blackberry Pick will be digitally recorded and uploaded to a website ( https://thegreatblackberrypick.wordpress.com ) so everyone can access and contribute to the research.
Coun Lucy Hodgson, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for localism and communities, said it was wonderful Droitwich Library had received the funding for such an interesting project which was involving the whole community.
Anyone who is interested in joining the research group or who has any items on First World War that they are happy to share with the project can get in touch Bev Orlowsky or James Robertson at Droitwich Spa Library, on 01905 822722.
