Project Officer - Aden Veterans Oral History Project

Legasee is a charity committed to ensuring that future generations can learn about our history through the personal recollections of the men and women who witnessed it first-hand. We provide students, teachers and researchers with unique access to a high-definition video archive of interviews with veterans and civilians connected to British military conflict from 1939 to the present day.

We are now seeking to recruit a committed and organised Project Officer to support the delivery of a major new oral history project focusing on the Aden Emergency, made possible thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. At its heart, the project will record the oral histories of 30–40 veterans and civilians whose lives were shaped by service in, or connection to, Aden during the final years of British rule.

Working closely with the Project Manager, the Project Officer will play a key role in the on-the-ground delivery of the project in Blackpool and the wider Northwest. The role has a particular focus on face-to-face volunteer coordination and the digitisation of archival material from the Aden Veterans Association, alongside supporting local events, interview days and community engagement activity.

The Project Officer will act as a local point of contact for volunteers, veterans and partner organisations, ensuring that activity is well organised, welcoming and delivered to a high standard. This is a practical, people-facing role, suited to someone who enjoys working directly with communities and supporting volunteers to develop new skills and confidence.

The recorded testimonies and digitised materials will form a permanent digital archive, supporting public engagement, interpretation and learning, and ensuring that the experiences of those connected to the Aden Emergency are preserved for future generations. The Project Officer will support quality assurance, accessibility and good archival practice throughout this process.

Education and community engagement are central to the project. The Project Officer will contribute to activity delivered in partnership with local schools, libraries and community groups, helping to create meaningful opportunities for people to engage with oral history and local heritage.

The role is home-based but requires regular in-person working in Blackpool and the surrounding area, including attendance at volunteer sessions, events and meetings. Flexibility around working hours is essential to meet the practical needs of the project.

If successful, your role will be:

• To support the delivery of the project in line with the requirements of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the agreed evaluation framework
• To coordinate and support volunteers involved in digitisation, events and local project activity
• To act as a local liaison with veterans, partners and community organisations
• To support interview days, local events and public engagement activity
• To contribute to the creation and management of high-quality digital and archival records

In the first instance, please send a covering letter explaining your interest in the role and how your experience meets the requirements, along with an up-to-date CV.

Thank you for your interest in our work and best of luck.