Donna Maughan, Secretary

Since returning to study seven years ago I have had a keen interest in community voice and preservation. I have been working within many community organisations and projects which is how I discovered the Community Archives and Heritage Group (CAHG). In 2018 I was part of a community oral history project called the 100 Homes project who were proud winners of the ‘Community Engagement Award’ and ‘Best overall Community Archive and Heritage Group 2018’. Following the awards, I joined the committee, and this year has led me to become the committee’s secretary.

Current research

I’m currently undertaking my PhD at Marjon University in Plymouth, researching, and exploring the effects of participatory heritage research on health and wellbeing within communities and how this knowledge can directly shape community heritage collections in the future. With a keen interest in the LGBTQ+ community and minority represented communities, preserving the memories and archives of the past and present is vitality important at the source of the information within the community. I believe that by collecting the memories and personal accounts of those who were a part of Plymouths historic culture it can be expanded to include many more voices whilst promoting a promising way of effectively taking care of individuals mental health and wellbeing.

Of vital importance

The work of CAHG is vitally important for supporting the community to be able to create, preserve and undertake collection of communities cultural history and heritage. The support that comes through the resources and advice through the website is essential and I am proud to support the mission and vision that CAHG aims towards.