About the oral history project


In 2009 St Mungo's marked it's 40th anniversary, and with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund was able to embark on a groundbreaking project to document the experiences and stories of people marginalised in society - voices which are otherwise not heard.

Six interviewers, themselves St Mungo's clients, were trained in oral history interviewing. Over many months they recorded 26 men and 15 women sharing their stories. Interviewees aged between 23 and 71 came forward, drawn from ten of St Mungo's housing projects across seven London boroughs.

The oral history project will have a permanent home in LSE Archives as a resource for current and future students. LSE Archives are a rich, remarkable source of knowledge about poverty and society, in London and beyond.

Acknowledgements

linda lwresMy main thanks are to Sarah, Len, Neil, Sam, Freddie and Tara for their excellent work as interviewers, and to each of the interviewees for sharing their lives: Eton, Jeff, Ronald, Paul, Nick, Roy, Sharon, John, Tracy, Joanne, Joe, Paul, Lee, Michael, Maria, Kimberley, Michael, Jason, Collette, Tony, Mark, Karl, Linda, John, Billie, John, Raymond, Stuart, David, Ken, Casey, Mark, Jane, Esther, Karen, Elroy, Angela, Geraldine, James, Lisa and Paul.

Thanks also to Charles Fraser, St Mungo's Chief Executive, for sharing his experiences of working with homeless people over 30 years.

Mark Hutin, Oral History Project co-ordinator

Photos: Neil Allan, Deborah Kershaw

If you have enjoyed the oral history project, you may be interested in hearing more about St Mungo's, our work and some more real life client stories

  • Hear how a group of clients from our Endell Street hostel wrote, produced and recorded an orginal track, Written on the Streets, to celebrate our 2010 Action Week
  • Read more real life stories from St Mungo's clients