“Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space and better space for everyone” – George Dei, 2006
The Oxford Road Stories Research project has shown great potential from the start of 2020 due to the methods used in participatory action research that engage with communities that are seldom heard in research. In 2022, funded by Reading Borough Council, a second phase of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) project was co-designed with local people and community groups who frequent a community space, the Lifespring Church/Pavilion, to have conversations about community, highlight how the Oxford Road’s vibrant history is connected to and through their lives, and what Lifespring means to them. Collaborating with Baker Street Productions and University of Reading students, the team curated a series of interviews, life histories, artefacts, and photographs to explore and share a series of Lifespring Stories, which was exhibited in Reading libraries, Reading Museum and Oxford Road venues.
The people of Oxford Road have many things that connect them to this space. Everything makes their identity unique, and they find commonality on one road – Oxford Road. These are their stories.
Read our book
With continued support from Reading Borough Council, the University of Reading and Baker Street, Lifespring Stories: the Many Faces of Oxford Road, Reading Town, United Kingdom, a book that captures the audio stories has been published and is available here.
To reference the book please use: Mpofu-Coles, A., Woronka, R., Bishop, C. and Hewson, O. (2024) Lifespring stories: the many faces of Oxford Road, Reading Town, United Kingdom. University of Reading, Reading, UK. ISBN 9780704916142 DOI: https://doi.org/10.48683/1926.00118420
Hear their stories
Hear the first-hand accounts of Oxford Road residents overcoming adversity like addiction, settling in the UK, and finding their place in the community.
