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West Flintshire World War 1 Project

Summary Evaluation Report

To remember all who did not return

Er cof am bawb nad oeddent yn dychwelyd

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Contents

Page

1. Project overview 2

2. Project scope 3

3. Project aim 3

4. Heritage Lottery Fund outputs 3

5. Heritage Lottery Fund funding 4

6. Project Governance 5

6.1. Engagement and promotion 5

7. Evaluating the project’s approved purpose activities 5

8. Project feedback 14

8.1. Case study 17

8.2. Learnings 18

9. Finance outcomes 18

10. Outcomes - Heritage Lottery Fund 19

11. Appendix 1, 2 and 3 22

The West Flintshire World War 1 Project

1. Overview

The West Flintshire World War 1 Project has run from July 2018 to March 2019. The project

concept evolved from members of the Flint and Holywell Rotary Club who were proactively

advocating the need for the local community to commemorate the First World War centenary.

The purpose of this summary evaluation report is to share the findings and outcomes from

the 'West Flintshire World War 1 Project’, which has been funded by the Heritage Lottery

Fund ‘Then and Now Programme’. This report documents the activities and impact the project

has had on the local community as a result of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Thank you

The Project team would like to thank all of the staff, students and their families, every

volunteer, local business owner, Holywell Business Forum members, local organisations and

members of the public who have supported the Project. Thank you. A special thank you is

made to the National Lottery Players and the Heritage Lottery Fund for making the Project

possible.

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Panton Place Gates, Holywell, Flintshire.

2. Project scope

Following a series of meetings, seven organisations agreed to work in partnership to deliver

the West Flintshire World War 1 Project; Flint and Holywell Rotary Club, Holywell Town

Council, local schools Ysgol Maes Glas, Ysgol Maes Y Felin, Ysgol St. Winefride’s and Ysgol

Treffnnon and not for profit organisation Change in Culture Projects CIC. Some of the

organisations had previously worked together but never together as a partnership of this size.

The project bid was submitted to Heritage Lottery Fund in March 2018, awarded June 2018

and commenced in July 2018.

Each partner organisation understood their role and responsibilities in relation to the project

through an agreed ‘memorandum of understanding’ document. The memorandum of

understanding document outlined the specified activities and budget allocations to be

followed for the life of the project.

3. Project aim

The aim of the project was to focus on local schools undertaking research and

commemoration of local soldiers who are named on the Holywell World War 1 Roll Honour

and Greenfield Memorial, along with a finale Remembrance Sunday Commemorative Event

to be held in Holywell for the public to attend.

Student research was to include trips to the Caernarfon Castle Regimental Museum, to learn

about the Royal Welch Fusiliers (whom most local soldiers signed up to) and a visit to

Birkenhead Park, in Wirral, where famous North Wales World War 1 poet, Hedd Wyn, was

posthumously awarded the 1917 Eisteddfod Bardic Chair.

Other key activities for the project included each school holding a special assembly about the

First World War centenary and share their learning. A website was to be created by Delwedd

Media, to archive the project’s content for future generations.

4. Heritage Lottery Fund outputs

Based on the project aim the following funded outputs were agreed by Heritage Lottery

Fund – the project’s approved purpose is as follows:

a) 2 trips for 90 primary school pupils to both Caernarfon Castle and Birkenhead Park.

b) 12 community mentors will work with local residents to gather information about their

family connections to soldiers in World War 1.

c) Based on the educational trips students will create their own poetry and songs ahead

of Remembrance Sunday.

d) Students to create individual soldier A4 Roll Honour bibliography sheets. To be

shared through the website and commemorative event.

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e) A bespoke bilingual website will be created by Delwedd Media. This will contain all of

the project materials after the project ends.

f) Remembrance Sunday event where the roll of honour will be read out by each

student, along with music and poetry from the World War 1.

g) High visibility acknowledgement of the Heritage Lottery Fund on site, online and in all

activities. As well as using your project to acknowledge and thank National Lottery

players.

h) Project Evaluation Report.

The Commemoration Event

5. Heritage Lottery Fund funding

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) approved purpose spend for the project was as follows

(and as per the memorandum of understanding document):

Table 1: Project Budget

HLF cost heading

HLF item description Total budget

Professional fees Administration costs for schools - £100.00 per school (10 hours)

£400.00

Professional fees Schools costs - supporting students to produce research and bibliography - £175.00 per school

£700.00

Other Caernarfon Castle Regimental Museum Trip £1,500.00

Other Birkenhead Park Trip £500.00

Expenses for volunteers

Volunteer expenses £500.00

Professional fees Administration support – 40 hours @ £10 per hour £400.00

Digital outputs Website – creation and ongoing hosting, maintenance for 4 years

£3,300.00

Publicity and Promotion

Engagement, marketing and displays throughout the project

£1,200.00

Equipment and materials

Remembrance Sunday event – WW1 memorial artists and bands, Hedd Wyn artist and military group

£1,000.00

Total spend £9,500.00

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6. Project governance

The success of the project has been measured against the outcomes and outputs agreed in

the Heritage Lottery Fund application – this aligns to the memorandum of understanding

document that was put in place to govern the project. Project meetings were set up at the

beginning of the project and held regularly to monitor progress, and to ensure the project was

delivered within budget. Community mentor meetings were held regularly and were overseen

by the project committee.

Methodology

Various methods were used to collect data and feedback to evidence the impact the project

has had on all those who were involved. These include:

a) Evaluation questionnaires

b) Pictures of the Commemoration Event activities

c) Case study

d) Website and film to capture commemorative memories and research

e) Media consent forms.

6.1 Engagement and promotion

Project promotion and participant involvement was through various engagement methods:

• Letters home to families sent out by the schools

• Over 5,000 flyer posters purchased and shared

• Posters displayed locally in schools, shops, library, business owners, GP surgeries,

hospital, community centre and leisure centre

• Website and social media posts by key partners involved in the project

• Local newspaper article in the Flintshire Leader and by word of mouth

• Local magazine ‘In and Around’ by local media company ‘Tadmark’, and their online

‘In and Around’ directory

• Information and recruitment stall - Holywell High Street event, summer 2018

• Information and recruitment stall - Holywell Emergency Services Day; summer 2018

• Information and recruitment stall at the Holywell WellInn Festival, 01 September 2018

• Presentation to the ‘Holywell Business Forum’ in September 2018 and subsequent

emails sent by the Forum

• Letter sent to all West Flintshire Town Council Officers and Flintshire County Council

• Sharing details about the project at the Flintshire County Council Military Veteran

Covenant meeting in September 2018

• A Community Mentor attending the Greenfield Valley World War 1 open weekend in

October 2018.

7. Evaluating the project’s approved purpose activities

The following section looks at each approved purpose, looking at the activities delivered,

what worked and if there was any lessons learnt.

a) 2 trips for 90 primary school pupils to both Caernarfon Castle and Birkenhead

Park.

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This activity was successfully achieved. The Caernarfon Castle Regimental Museum trips

took place over four days on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th September 2018. The three

schools who went on the trips were Ysgol Maes Glas, Maes Y Felin and St. Winefride’s.

In total, 106 children, 12 school staff and four community mentor volunteers attended the

trips. The trips to the Museum included a military dressed World War 1 actor who was paid

for by the Regimental Museum; this enabled interactive fact learning for students. Students

learnt about the Welsh Fusiliers and how they played a key role in World War 1.

Local Coach Company, Eagles and Crawford, who provided the transport for the trips, kindly

discounted their initial quote to £1,280.00 in recognition of the project being First World War

centenary related; this meant an underspend of £220.00 from the original budget cost.

The trip to Birkenhead Park, in Wirral, took place during October 2018. Thirty one children,

teaching staff and four community mentor volunteers attended the trip. The number of school

students was lower than originally planned due to Ysgol Treffynnon being informed by Welsh

education body, Estynn, that they had to be prepared for a visit to take place the week of the

planned trip. Ysgol Treffynnon participated in all other activities of the project. The trip went

ahead with a contingency plan of Ysgol Maes Glas students attending. The reduced number

of students attending has meant an underspend of £200.00 from the original budget cost.

The Wilfred Owen Story and Gallery, Wirral, was also visited during the day trip to Birkenhead.

Change in Culture Projects CIC who provided the project management, administration and

evaluation for the project had received £200.00 in administration; however the company

wished for the £200.00 to be reinvested back into the project as community benefit; therefore

taking no financial contribution, 100% social value. Some of this reinvestment paid for the

Wilfred Owen Gallery visit.

At the Gallery students learnt about World War 1 poet Wilfred Owen – which houses the

largest collection of his memorabilia in the United Kingdom. During the Gallery visit, a World

War 1 poet who exhibits work on women during war times kindly worked with a Project

Community Mentor, Mr Steve Blakesley, who is also a poet, and Welsh STEM Ambassador

(Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Between them they produced educational

content in relation to the roles that women played during World War 1 and the significant

contribution they made. Students produced poetry during the visit.

The Friends of Birkenhead Park and the Birkenhead Park Visitor

Centre provided a learning room where Ysgol Maes Glas students

received an interactive presentation on Hedd Wyn and the 1917

Eisteddfod, by Professor Robert Lee. Students learnt about the

significance of the 1917 Black Chair, which was posthumously

awarded to Hedd Wyn, when the Eisteddfod was held in the Park.

The Hedd Wyn memorial stone was visited and children held a

respectful minute of silence.

(pictured left, the Hedd Wyn Memorial, at Birkenhead Park, Wirral).

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Dream On They said they'd be home by Christmas The British lads would win. But years have come and gone since then, And Nations won't give in.

The ladder leads to no man's land Where barbed wire captures men. Where shrapnel blows young lives apart And guns cough now and then.

He dreams of Mum and going home, While filthy mud in streams Cascades into the trenches still, And coldly steals his dreams.

Written by Mr Steve Blakesley, Community Mentor, 26 October 2018

b) 12 community mentors will work with local residents to gather information about

their family connections to soldiers in World War 1.

This activity was partially achieved, with a total of eight volunteer community mentors who

worked on the project – seven who are local residents and one from Flintshire. In total there

were seventeen project volunteers who supported the project, as volunteer roles were varied.

For this reason we have recorded eight deemed as a community mentor.

We had some varied responses from local residents about what they wanted to share about

their family. Most people who got in touch wanted to share a chat about their family

connections to World War 2, more than World War 1. Some local residents worked with their

respective children or grandchildren through school involvement on homemade projects, such

as model making.

The project logo (below) was designed by project volunteer Mr Steve Blakesley. The logo design is explained by Steve: “Any of the First World War memorials will show you how many of the fallen were young. Some were only 16 or 17 years old, some even younger. For this project in West Flintshire, we have chosen to represent this with two flowers; the poppy that grows on Flanders' fields - red as blood, and our national war memorial, and the Welsh daffodil. The daffodil is not quite open because, it represents the young Welsh men, who died before their lives could flourish.”

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Community Mentor meetings were held in the local Stamford Gate Hotel, Holywell. After two

meetings the Hotel kindly waived room hire costs in exchange for purchasing refreshments

for mentors. Due to the reduced Mentor numbers and welcomed in-kind support from the

Stamford Gate Hotel, an underspend of £219.70 is recorded.

c) Based on the educational trips students will create their own poetry and songs

ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

This activity was successfully achieved. Students learnt new information about World War 1

from the educational trips to Caernarfon Castle and Birkenhead Park. The poetry that was

created was to a high standard and some was read out at the Remembrance Sunday

Commemoration Event and shared by the schools on stalls set up on the day.

Community Mentors, Mr Steve Blakesley and Mr Peter Lewis, pictured at the project’s information and feedback stall at the Commemoration Event. The beautiful form collection box was kindly handmade by the daughter of Community Mentor, Mrs Thessa Bowen. It is most fortunate that some community mentors who are local residents have gathered a lot of information relating to World War 1 history to share with the public from their own family connections or World War 1 interest. Community volunteer, Mr Elfyn Pierce Jones, (below) safely displayed a stall of military memorabilia at the Event which gained great interest from the public. Local shop owners dressed their windows for the Event. Tower Crafts shop is pictured below.

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This is War, by Mia Jones, Ysgol St. Winefride’s Red poppies all around, Soldiers in smelly trenches. Wearing dirty, khaki uniforms, Covered in blood-poisonous injuries. Poppies everywhere for the ones who are lost, Some were found, some were not. Some blown to pieces, Some missing - this is war.

d) Students to create individual soldier A4 Roll Honour bibliography sheets. To be

shared through the website and commemorative event.

This activity was successfully achieved. Students undertook research about each individual

soldier named on the Roll Honour and Memorial, and shared this at the Event. Each soldier’s

name was produced in print in the special edition Commemoration Event programme.

Following lots of teacher support, students practiced reading and reciting their sheets to

enable them to read out their bibliography sheets to the public. An event choreographer

helped ensure the smooth running of schools on to and off the stage.

Each school had a marquee stall and shared their work they had produced during the project

at the Remembrance Sunday event. All bibliography sheets are saved for the website. The

sheets are informative and have been creatively produced.

Students reciting their soldier bibliography sheets

e) A bespoke bilingual website will be created by Delwedd Media. This will contain all

of the project materials after the project ends.

The website flintshireremembers.com was created by Delwedd Media and will be a lasting

legacy of the project. There is a plan in place to keep the website for the future. The website

design was created following feedback by volunteers involved in the project.

Each school has a page on the website. Due to the amount of materials that have been

produced by the project, not all of the information has been uploaded or produced into Welsh

language at this stage, relevant pages will be done in due course. Only one community

mentor can write in Welsh so it is a longer than envisaged process. Delwedd Media have set

up the website in readiness for Welsh page updates to be provided when ready.

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It has been agreed that ongoing website meetings will be held three times a year (every four

months at the Stamford Gate Hotel, Holywell). The meetings will continue to plan updates as

required. The first year cost of the website was £1,917.60 and the ongoing years cost at

£1,382.40. Links such as to the ‘People’s Collection Wales’ will be on the website.

f) Remembrance Sunday event where the roll of honour will be read out by each

student, along with music and poetry from the World War 1.

The Commemoration Event was held on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2018, in Tower Gardens and Holywell High Street. The Event was well supported by the public, local organisations, business owners/staff, Holywell Business Forum members and Holywell Town Council officials. A special 24-page programme was created and shared on the day. Community project volunteer; Mr Peter Curtis, was the Master of Ceremony on the day and

opened the event with an emotional citation to a local solider, Private Herbert Edward Abbott,

who lost his life in Rouen, France, on 16th September 1918, at the tender age of 18 years.

Mr Peter Curtis Students from Ysgol Maes Y Felin

School students continued to read out citations in memory of every soldier named on

Holywell’s Roll Honour and the Greenfield’s Memorial. A varied and apt commemorative

programme was shared, which included a chance for a sing along to First World War songs

sung by Ysgol Maes Glas students; ‘Pack up your Troubles’, ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ and

‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’; it was humbling to see and hear the local community of all

ages come together.

Holywell Town Mayor, Councillor Rosetta Dolphin, recited a World War 1 poem by Vera

Brittain. The Deputy Mayor of Holywell was also in attendance along with other local

councillors. The Event’s programme ended with the Welsh National Anthem.

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Below, The Somme Company, Holywell Platoon, Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force, Royal Welsh – pictured proudly reciting Wilfred Owen poetry for the public at the Commemoration Event. The Cadets also kindly volunteered their time to support the project in the weeks of the run up to the event – led by Lieutenant Dave Collinge.

Above, Mr David Roberts, President of Flint and Holywell Rotary Club.

Mr Alan Cathery and Mr Allen Hughes

Talented woodcrafters from the Carmel and Holywell Woodcraft Association, designed and handcrafted a stunning commemorative plaque for the Holywell and District Royal British Legion branch. Woodcrafter, Mr Allen Hughes, pictured above, spoke of gratitude on the day. His speech is available at Appendix 1.

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Local community champions, Glynn and Roberta Owen, gave a poignant bi-

lingual Welsh reading to commemorate all the soldiers who served and fell from across the West Flintshire area. Roberta said: “It was an honour to be asked to read at the event, it was important for the reading to be commemorated by Welsh speakers”. Project volunteer Mrs Thessa Bowen said: “I volunteered to remember those who died. The weather was kind to us on the day and from what I've seen everyone appreciated what's been put on as a commemoration”.

Free use of marquees and tables

owned by Flintshire County Council,

were set up to share project

information.

Each school had a marquee stall at

the Remembrance Event and

displayed some of their work that was

produced during the project, along

with speaking with members of the

public.

Ysgol Treffynnon students produced

beautiful poppy wreaths created from

recycled plastic drink bottles.

Ysgol Maes Y Felin shared stunning portrait

drawings and remembrance crosses (right)

Students reading soldier’s citations (pictured

above).

A World War 1 themed quiz for families was

created by Community Mentors. Visual clues

and answers to the 10 questions were placed

in some shops on the High Street and Tower

Gardens. Quizzers had to find the clues in the

shop windows. A face painter painted

poppies and daffodils for children.

The Flint Ladies Choir and

Holywell Town Band

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West Flintshire World War 1 Commemoration event – 1918 to 2018 Holywell High Street, 11 November 2018, 12.45pm to 2.30pm

Main event: 12.45pm to 2.30pm – information stalls until 3.30pm 12.45pm – ‘Holywell Town Crier’ opening announcement followed by Holywell Town Band performing

‘Camp Fire’

Introduction by Mr Peter Curtis. Citation: Herbert Edward Abbott

Ysgol St.Winefride’s reciting Y Wawr by Hedd Wyn Citations: L Stuart Ayer, John Boyes (St.Winefride’s)

John Jones, Robert Jones (Maes y Felin) David Ames, Joseph Butler, George Davies, Herbert Davies (Maesglas) Holywell Town Band perform ‘1914 March’ The Flint Ladies Choir perform ‘The Prayer’ Citations: John Conlon and D O Darley Davies (St.Winefride’s) James H Parry, Samuel Pulford, Robert Rawson (Maes y Felin) William Davies, Herbert Dykins, Joseph Edwards (Maesglas)

Ysgol Maes y Felin recite ‘Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae The Flint Ladies Choir perform ‘Flanders Fields’ Citations: William Edwards, John Fowles, Joseph Garbutt (Maesglas)

Bernard Rafferty, John E Roberts (Maes y Felin) Holywell Town Band perform ‘Nimrod’ Ysgol Treffynnon, Nathan Hall and Mabli Kadelka-Williams poetry recitals Ysgol St.Winefride’s recite poetry they have produced Ysgol Maesglas perform ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’, ‘Long Way to Tipperary’ and ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’ Citations: John E Davies, Robert T Davies (St.Winefride’s)

Edward S Hughes, Richard Hughes, Caradoc Jones, J E Jones, John Arthur Jones (Maesglas)

Leslie Wallworth, Joseph E Williams (Maes y Felin) Presentation from ‘Carmel and Holywell Woodcraft Association’ by Mr Edward Allen Hughes Flint and Holywell Rotary Club President, Mr David Roberts, recites ‘My Boy Jack’ by Rudyard Kipling Holywell Town Band perform ‘David of the White Rock’ Citations: John Richard Jones, John Robert Jones, Joseph Jones (Maesglas)

J Lawton Denton, Benjamin Edwards, Robert Edwards (St. Winefride’s) John Llew Williams, Mesech Williams (Maes y Felin)

Holywell Air Cadets recite ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ by Wilfred Owen Ysgol St.Winefride’s recite ‘A letter home - From Danny to Angharad’ from The Black Chair Ysgol Maesglas recite ‘From a Mother to a Son’ Holywell Town Band perform ‘Suo Gan’ Citations: Oliver Jones, Peter Jones, Philip Jones, John Lancelot (Maesglas)

Edwin Williams, Hugh Williams, William Williams, (Maes y Felin) David Evans, Arthur Fisher, Alfred Hinsley (St.Winefride’s)

Ysgol Treffynnon recital by Rachel Jones ‘Lament for Thomas MCDonagh’ by Francis Ledwidge (first 2 verses) Holywell Town Mayor Clllr Rosetta Dolphin recites ‘Perhaps’ by Vera Brittain Holywell Town Band perform ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’ by John Greenleaf Whittier Citations: Walter Littler, Gordon Martin, Percival Vickers (Maesglas)

William Williams, Benjamin Walker (Maes y Felin) William Hughes, Percy Jervis (St.Winefride’s) Ernest Williams, Isaac Williams (Maesglas)

Ysgol St.Winefride’s recite ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ by Wilfred Owen Holywell & District Royal British Legion recites verses 2 and 3 from ‘For the Fallen’ by Lawrence Binyon Ysgol Treffynnon recite verse 4 of ‘For the Fallen’ Reading by Glynn and Roberta Owen, with information from permission by Flintshire War Memorials to commemorate West Flintshire soldiers who served in World War 1 and those fallen Mr Peter Lewis recital of Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy poem and epilogue Holywell Town Band perform ‘Night Fall in Camp’

One-minute silence Welsh National Anthem

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g) High visibility acknowledgement of the Heritage Lottery Fund on site, online

and in all activities. As well as using your project to acknowledge and thank

National Lottery players.

This activity was successfully achieved. All promotional materials that were produced for

the project acknowledged the Heritage Lottery Fund and thanked National Lottery Players.

A news article was produced in the local Flintshire newspaper, Flintshire Leader, which

clearly thanked National Lottery Players and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Source: Flintshire Leader, 01 October 2018

From July 2018, in the lead up to the Remembrance Sunday Commemoration Event, project

volunteers had an information table at other community events held in Holywell High Street

and Tower Gardens, and the Greenfield Valley. Over five thousand flyer posters were

printed and shared out in the run up to the Event. The Remembrance Sunday Event opened

and ended with a thank you to National Lottery Players and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

8. Project feedback

The following section provides an account of the feedback that has been produced about

the project. The Remembrance Sunday Commemoration Event attracted up to 500 visitors

throughout the day. Speaking with some visitors at the Event confirmed that the majority

appeared to have come from Holywell, Greenfield and Carmel, with other people stating

they lived in Caerwys, Flint, Connah’s Quay, Prestatyn, Mold, Hawarden, St. Helen’s and

Liverpool.

A snapshot of some comments from some visitors that they had left in the Guest Book:

The four schools involved produced a number of resources in different formats. Content is

saved on to pen drives for future reference and uploading some materials to the website:

• Poetry

• Letters

• Diary extracts

• Art work

• Models

• Role play

• Imovie

In total the following information was recorded for school involvement:

• Trips: 137 students had attended a trip (Caernarfon Castle and Birkenhead).

• World War 1 school assemblies: over 1,000 students had attended.

• Families attending the World War 1 school assembly: 89 families attended.

“…my Uncle John Doich was killed in the Somme 1916” “…remembering my 2 great Uncles (William and Thomas Lewis) who gave their lives

in 1914-18 Great War” “…An amazing way to commemorate the Great War” “…Fantastic way for our town to remember all that these brave people did for us”

“…a wonderful effort to remember a remarkable contribution – R.I.P. ‘Lest we forget” “…remembering those who did not return. Let’s not forget them”

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• Work produced to display on the website: over 160 students produced work.

• Soldier bibliographies produced: The three primary school’s produced soldier

bibliographies; 91 in total.

Students made good use of the informative heritage website: flintshirewarmemorials.com to

access some historical information when learning about local soldiers. Students then

reproduced their own bibliography sheets. Flintshire War Memorials was contacted during

the project for advice and permission to use some information; this was kindly granted.

Table 2 below has collated information about the project from 140 responses gathered from

students of Ysgol Maes Glas, Ysgol Maes Y Felin and Ysgol St. Winefride’s. An

overwhelming number of students stated they had learnt from the trips, had enjoyed learning

about local soldiers and their families, said they now knew more about World War 1, had

enjoyed being involved and had shared their learning with friends and family. Two thirds of

students thought the project was ‘excellent’ and one third stated ‘good’.

A very low number of students answered with a ‘no’ to enjoyment of learning or the project

being good; this was in line with their further written feedback comments that stated they did

not enjoy hearing or learning about all of the people who had died in the war and that it was

sad. This was discussed at the onset of the project and everyone involved was aware that

some students might raise this valid viewpoint.

Table 2 – student project responses

☺ Yes Don’t know No

Did you learn about World War 1 from going on the trip (136 responses received)

88% 6% 6%

Did you enjoy learning about local families and soldiers’ lives during World War 1 (140 responses received)

86% 9% 4%

Do you think you know more now about World War 1 (140 responses received)

83% 12% 5%

Did you enjoy being involved in the World War 1 project (140 responses received)

85% 12% 3%

Did you share anything you learnt about World War 1 with your family or friends (140 responses received)

59% 17% 24%

☺Excellent Good Poor

The World War 1 project was… (138 responses received)

63% 36% 1%

Snapshot of some school feedback responses

We have collated 31 project evaluation forms. Information in Table 3 below provides an

account of their feedback responses. From respondents, the majority ethnicity was white

British, the majority aged over 50, with highest age range of aged 65+, 61% male, 39%

female, 32% disability and the majority as Christian religion or belief. Overwhelming

numbers agreed that the project was excellent and had benefitted the community.

Table 3

The group which best described respondents was members of the public 45%, involved in

the project 36%, local business owner/worker 16% and not for profit organisation 3%.

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Agree Neither Disagree

From what you know, children involved in the project appeared to learn more about World War 1 from going on the trip/s 31 responses

97% 3%

From what you know, the children appeared to learn about the lives of local families and local soldiers during World War 1 31 responses

97% 3%

The local community have developed more understanding and knowledge of local World War 1 heritage through the project 31 responses

87% 13%

You think the website to record all information created from the project is useful 31 responses

97% 3%

The project made you think more than you might have done about the impacts of World War 1 29 responses

83% 17%

If you was directly involved in the project, did you have an enjoyable experience 26 responses

92% 8%

Excellent Good Poor

Overall how would you rate the World War 1 Commemoration Event held on Remembrance Sunday 31 responses

94% 6%

Overall how would you rate the Project 31 responses

94% 6%

Snapshot of feedback on the project

Volunteer labour and any non-cash contributions

The social value to make the project a success was enabled through non-cash community

assets.

“Excellent chance to honour and respect those who gave their lives for our future. So

that we can live in safety and have a voice. Thank you, thank you, thank you”

“…ever impressed with how the children embraced this project. Great experience all

round and a good job done by all…” “it’s been good for the heart and soul”

“10 out of 10” “very enjoyable” “…it seemed good for the kids”

“..it would be good to see the website include other significant dates in history”

“…my class has shown an understanding of the horrors and hardships suffered by WW1 soldiers, beyond their years. It was a privilege and humbling experience taking part. Thank you” “…all children, staff and families enjoyed taking part in the project. Thank you for the opportunity”

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Approximately, 17 people participated in the Project in terms of volunteer time. Table 4

below has the community benefit and social value added to the project; a value of £30,620.

Volunteers have collectively contributed 577.5 hours on the project, equivalent to 82.5

weeks. This is demonstrative of the positive community ethos the project garnered.

Table 4: Volunteer labour and non-cash contribution

Description of task

Total value of contribution (£)

Volunteer Community Mentors 6000

Volunteers Remembrance Sunday Event 850

Volunteer support throughout the project 2000

Project management and administration 21000

Project evaluation 4200

School overheads and 8 months support (£2k per school) 8000

Project meetings 5250

PA system and stage set up for Remembrance Event 300

Remembrance Sunday refreshments 250

Meeting venues 620

Graphic design for Commemorative Event (Tadmark) 1050

The majority of project volunteers were aged 65+, lived in Holywell, were of White British

ethnicity and had identified themselves as having a disability.

Roles included mentor, marketing, distributing flyers, photography, poetry, translating bi-

lingual content, stalls setting up, decoration, stage set up, PA set up, helping coordinate

activities, stewarding, comparing for the event, staffing the project stall and administration.

The project gratefully received support from local businesses and organisations - many

promoted the project by word of mouth and flyer contribution – this has not been included in

the above figures, or the time of the Holywell Platoon Army Cadets, or any additional time

by School Teachers and Teaching Assistants outside of their teaching contribution.

8.1 Volunteer Case study

Mr Peter Lewis, is retired, lives in Carmel, and wanted to get involved in the project due to

his interest in ancestry and the centenary of World War 1. Mr Lewis took up his new hobby

of looking into his family ancestry once in retirement.

During his family research Mr Lewis has found out information about his 2 great Uncles;

William and Thomas Lewis, who both sadly died in World War 1. Thereafter, Mr Lewis felt

a strong connection with his family and World War 1, and went on to experience emotional

visits to Passchendaele, Ypres and the Somme Battlefields.

Mr Lewis explained that the project was of great interest to him due to his own family history.

He has provided some of his research about his family for the project. Mr Lewis said he

wanted to be part of providing more awareness about World War 1, which he says was a

merciless war. Mr Lewis explained it was great to be able to get involved in the ancestry

research for his children, so they can find out about their own heritage and look back at their

family tree. So far he been able to trace his relatives back to 1796.

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Mr Lewis read out a recital at the Commemoration Event, remembering ‘Woodbine Willy’,

he also supported volunteer meetings, provided St. Winefride’s school with mentor learning

material and has produced material for the website. Mr Lewis had said it has been a great

experience to be involved in the project and meet new people. He said: It’s provided an

opportunity for commemorating World War 1 locally and for people to look back at heritage

and think about finding out more about their own family tree”.

8.2 Learnings

Some seating was provided for the Holywell Town Band at the Event and for a small number

of visitors, however, the majority of visitors had to stand. Better advertising to say bring a

deckchair along if people so wish would be a future recommendation. The timing of the day

ran slightly over due to students from different schools taking different lengths of time

reading their bibliographies. The sound system used on the day could have been of a

greater quality and with more speakers placed around the Tower Gardens area, this was

something that was not within budget that could be met for this event but a recommendation

to be shared for future events. People are put off answering feedback forms which ask for

equality monitoring information. More time than was originally envisaged was spent on

administration and project management; chasing up event bookings, repeating requests for

invoice details before payments could be made and collecting monitoring information; all

done for free; future project costs should include a contingency cost for project time.

9. Finance outcomes

All funding was spent on activities that were within the set budget lines and for the purpose

for which the grant was given and included in the memorandum of understanding. The

following systems and methods were used to monitor the budget:

• All budget spend headings were approved by project members in line with the

memorandum of understanding agreed by all partners before project start.

• Monthly project meetings with budget update on monthly project expenditure.

• Payments were backed up with relevant documentation i.e. receipts/invoices to

provide a clear audit trail for all resources expended.

• An embedded document has been created that is matched to set budget lines which

contains all invoices and receipts of financial records.

• The project budget spend has been externally verified by an independent Accountant

in April 2019.

The project was delivered within budget. The budget award was £9,500. At project end the

total spend was £8,635.30; underspend of £864.70 (Birkenhead Park trip cost, admin,

community mentors cost and the Caernarfon Castle trip). The £865.00 underspend was

transferred back to the Heritage Lottery Fund in March 2019. The final budget amount is

zero. A full budget breakdown is available at: Appendix 3.

The high majority of the suppliers paid for by the project where from Flintshire; the project

team was keen to keep investment into the local Flintshire and Welsh economy wherever

possible.

10. Outcomes - Heritage Lottery Fund

We measured the outcomes by feedback sheets, post event discussion, project monitoring and

by producing a case study. We based the projects purpose around activities that we knew would

create awareness, learn, bring the community together, provide enjoyment and create an

ongoing legacy.

Outcomes for people

10.1 People will have learnt about heritage

The project has been an inclusive all age opportunity for people to connect and learn about local

World War 1 soldiers and life. The children and young people who took part in the project are

able to evidence what they have learnt about the First World War through the Special assemblies

that were held for family/community to attend, the work they produced to display at the

Commemorative Event, by performing at the Event and sharing work on the website.

Some volunteers learnt more about World War 1 heritage and improved their knowledge in

discussions that took place between Community Mentors on World War 1 events such as;

Ypres, the Battle of Passchendaele, about Hedd Wyn and Wilfred Owen, and as history might

suggest, the never ending of World War 1 that lead to World War 2.

10.2 People will have developed skills

Students have developed skills in being curious through heritage research, they have developed

poetry skill relating to World War 1, they have learnt about popular songs sung by people and

sung in front of the public; they have had the opportunity to develop their public speaking and

performance skills.

10.3 People will have changed their attitudes and/or behaviour

People of all ages in the community have had the opportunity to unite to remember life 100 years

ago during World War 1; showing gratitude and respectful behaviour for those gone before.

There is keen and growing momentum being led by the Holywell Business Forum and Holywell

Town Council to support Holywell to have its own Museum in the future. Preserving heritage is

a positive changing attitude locally and the project has contributed to this growing ethos.

The project’s Remembrance Sunday event provided a marquee stall for newly established local

charity, The National Working Dog Memorial, in Brynford, Flintshire. The Charity shared

information on their heritage related work which was warmly received by the public during the

Commemoration Event – the Dog Memorial will be the UK’s first working dog memorial, which

is being supported by all of the UK Armed Forces Sectors and UK Parliament; shaping

recognition for the bravery of animals during military work. The Holywell and Royal British

Legion has also had some new members join since being involved in the project.

10.4 People will have had an enjoyable experience

Community mentors, schools, organisations and the public enjoyed the social Remembrance

Sunday event which brought people of all ages together to commemorate a significant national

date in history. Most pupils enjoyed learning about World War 1 heritage. A visitor’s book was

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signed by people at the Remembrance Sunday event which left positive comments about their

experience; this is also captured in our feedback responses, contained in this Evaluation

Report.

10.5 People will have volunteered time

The project connected people of all ages from the community together. Project volunteers gladly

volunteered their time to the project. School Teachers worked above and beyond and gave their

time out of school hours to the project. Volunteers gave feedback that being involved in the

project gave the opportunity of making a contribution to First World War heritage and society for

such an important centenary date in history. A volunteer case study has been produced in the

evaluation report which illustrates some of the reasons why involvement was made and feelings

about the project. The project and the way it is regarded in the community has been a positive

experience valued by all volunteers involved.

Outcomes for heritage

10.6 Heritage outcomes

We delivered a heritage World War 1 project based on the interests of people of all ages and

focused on children and young people sharing their learning with the local community.

The project was planned and delivered in partnership with other heritage related organisations;

Caernarfon Castle, Friends of Birkenhead Park, the Wilfred Owen Gallery and a research visit

to the William Gladstone Library, in Hawarden, Flintshire. Combined, these organisations have

access to a wealth of materials, information, artefacts, knowledge and expertise relevant to the

First World War.

We arranged visits, talks and workshops to various educational places of interest, including

museums that provided opportunities for the children and young people to learn about heritage

and interpret their learning from a perspective outside of the classroom. We ensured the

Commemoration Event had a range of displays, information and armed forces memorabilia,

including a family themed quiz activity for visitors, created by Community Mentors.

The children and young people played World War 1 related role-plays during the

Commemoration Event and some wore the relevant clothing from the 1914 era. This included

a series of poems and letters written by a young soldier to his mother in 1914, recounting his

experiences of fighting in World War 1.

10.7 Heritage will be better interpreted and explained and 10.8 identified and recorded

The special school assemblies, the Commemoration Event and completed website will support

members of our community and wider audiences to learn more about the First World War. The

schools involved have helped to enhance their World War 1 curriculum learning through creating

the student bibliographies; enriching their learning and interpretation. Resources produced by

the project will be available to people now and in the future through the website, including inks

to other special interest sites related to heritage for further interpretation and learning. Everyone

who gave feedback on the project stated that it was important that the project and that they

valued it.

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Outcomes for communities

10.9 Outcomes for communities

We delivered a heritage World War 1 project based on the interests of people of all ages, and

abilities and focused on children and young people sharing their learning with the local

community. Children, young people, local performers and local community residents produced

a Commemorative Event aimed at the wider community. The event was a huge success, with

up to 500 people attending throughout the day, including the Mayor of Holywell and Deputy

Mayor. The completed project feedback forms evidence that a wide range of people are positive

about the project.

We spent the Commemoration Event budget on local businesses and organisations; supporting

our local community, adding community benefit and social value throughout. We believe the

‘West Flintshire World War 1 Project’ has been successful as partner organisations across the

community worked together effectively to deliver a varied programme of work, over a short

period of time, that provided a wide range of positive activities not only for current community

participants but for future community generations. The success of the Commemoration Event

is testimony to the commitment of everyone involved in the project from the local community.

10.10 Conclusion

As a result of delivering the World War 1 Project, it can appear that the local profile of the area

has been raised. While this may not be formally documented or evidenced we believe that

the project has contributed to positively changing attitudes and behaviours towards working

in partnership and a focus on preserving heritage.

The Holywell and District area has a growing number of community champions who have a

positive growth mind-set to influence community development and endeavours to preserve local

heritage for future generations. Going forward the Holywell Business Forum and Holywell Town

Council plan to lead a series of activities around developing and fostering relationships through

local heritage and cultural assets as a means to regenerate the area. A Holywell Town Museum

is anticipated as a future plan of work, along with Tower Gardens becoming an event and

shopping destination. Other plans to resurrect the local area include drawing on the natural

strengths of the area which is heaped in cultural heritage and assets. The project has

demonstrated that the community values and respects the contribution that people gave during

the First World War. The project achieved inclusive community outcomes for future generations

to benefit from.

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11. Appendix 1: Carmel and Holywell Woodcrafters Association

Carmel and Holywell Woodcraft Association’s Commemorative Event speech, as presented by Mr Allen Hughes, on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2018. “We have designed and crafted a special commemorative plaque for a charity organisation that was formed after the First World War in 1921. Over six million men had served in the First World War - 725,000 never returned. Of those who came back, 1.75 million had suffered some kind of disability and half of these were permanently disabled. Added to this figure were the families who depended on those who had gone to war - the wives and children, widows and orphans as well as the parents who had lost sons in the war, who often contributed to the household income. Even those who had come through the war relatively unscathed struggled with employment. As a result of the war, Britain's economy plummeted and in 1921 there were two million unemployed. The situation so moved Lancastrian Lance Bombardier Tom Lister, that he decided that if the government was either unable or unwilling to do anything to improve the lives of ex-Servicemen, he would do something about it himself. This eventually led to the formation of The British Legion. The Legion was then granted royal status in 1971. Today we give thanks to our very own ‘Holywell and District Royal British Legion branch’ and ask for the following members to accept the plaque as a commemorative thank you from your local community; Mr Alan Cathery and Lieutenant Dave Collinge”.

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Appendix 2

Acknowledgments and sincere thanks to the following for supporting the project:

• Art and Soul Tribe CIC

• Barlow’s Caravan Park, Caerwys

• Business owners/staff – Holywell High Street and Tower Gardens

• Caernarfon Castle Regimental Museum

• Carmel and Holywell Woodcraft Association

• Chris Baglin, Holywell Town Crier

• Deacon Rocky Bateman, St. Peter’s and St. Pauls Church, Holywell

• Delwedd, Caernarfon

• Eagles and Crawford coach hire, Mold

• Flintshire War Memorials

• Friends of Birkenhead Park, Professor Robert Lee

• Heritage Lottery Fund

• Holywell Platoon Army Cadets

• Holywell Business Forum members

• Holywell and District Royal British Legion Members

• Holywell Town Band

• Jason Baker and Collette Lowry, Holywell Town Council

• Jenny Ritchie (St. Winefride’s) Gill Lloyd (Ysgol Maesglas) Catrin Hughes (Ysgol Maes Y Felin) Mark Seale and Siobhan Henry (Ysgol Treffynnon)

• Merseyside Welsh Society – Dr Arthur Thomas and Ann Thomas

• Mike Dodd, Flintshire County Council

• National Lottery Players

• National Military Working Dog Memorial, Emma Ward

• Natural Elements Acupuncture and Healing, Kaz and Keith Richmond

• Project board members, mentors and volunteers

• Stamford Gate Hotel staff, Holywell

• Stephen Craddick, Flintshire Daily Post

• Tadmark, Mr Phil Smith

• The Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre staff and artist Sian Bailey

• The Coffee Bean, The Mews, Holywell, Sarah Kennedy-Ratcliffe

• The Flint Ladies Choir, Flint

• The Wilfred Owen Museum staff, Birkenhead.

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Appendix 3

The project budget spend has been externally verified by an Accountant in April 2019.

Total income (A) £9,500.00 Expenditure (B)

Jul-18 Aug-18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18 Dec-18 Jan-19 Feb-19 Mar-19 Total Budget

School admin (4 schools) £100.00 £300.00 £400.00 £400.00

School resources for research (4 schools) £175.00 £525.00 £700.00 £700.00

Caernarfon Castle Trip £1,280.00 £1,280.00 £1,500.00

Birkenhead Park Trip £300.00 £300.00 £500.00

Volunteer Mentor expenses £79.50 £7.20 £38.30 £134.00 £6.50 £14.80 £280.30 £500.00

Working Group Admin £200.00 £200.00 £400.00

Website £1,917.60 £1,382.40 £3,300.00 £3,300.00

Engagement, marketing and displays £195.87 £335.00 £599.18 £69.95 £1,200.00 £1,200.00

Remembrance Sunday event - WW1 memorial artists and bands, Hedd Wyn artist and military group £660.00 180.00 £135.00 £975.00 £1,000.00

Underspend returned to HLF £865.00 £864.70

Total Expenditure (B) £475.37 £7.20 £2,290.90 £3,248.18 180.00 £966.50 £1,467.15 £9,500.00 £9,500.00

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Date paid School admin and research resources Supplier Paid 29-Nov 2018 Treffynnon 275.00 28-Jan 2019 Maes Y Felin. Maes Glas. St. Winefride's. 825.00

Total £1,100.00 Caernarfon Castle trip 02-Nov 2018 Eagles and Crawford – coach hire 1,280.00

Total £1,280.00 Birkenhead trip 15-Nov 2018 Eagles and Crawford – coach hire 250.00 30-Nov 2018 Friends of Birkenhead Park 50.00

Total £300.00 Volunteer Mentor Expenses 16- Aug (meetings in July and August with room hire) Stamford Gate 79.50

26-Sep 2018 Stamford Gate 7.20 11-Oct 2018 Stamford Gate 5.50

11-Oct 2018 Stamford Gate 4.50 12-Oct 2018 Stamford Gate 9.50 18-Oct 2018 Stamford Gate 2.75 18-Oct 2018 Stamford Gate 16.05

02-Nov 2018 Stamford Gate 4.50

29-Nov 2018 Rocketroadshow (Birkenhead trip visits/content) 120.00 30-Nov 2018 Stamford Gate 9.50 16-Jan 2019 Stamford Gate 6.50 26-Feb 2019 Stamford Gate 14.80

Total £280.30 Working Group Admin 01-Aug 2018 Change in Culture Projects – reinvested* 200.00

Total £200.00 Website 02-Oct 2018 Delwedd Media - website 1,917.60 28-Feb 2019 Delwedd Media - ongoing hosting 1,382.40

Total £3,300.00 Engagement, marketing & displays throughout project 31-Jul 2018 Print Centre Wales - flyers 42.00

29-Aug 2018 Vistaprint – flyers and large plaque 153.87

03-Oct 2018 Andy & Paula Events 150.00 03 Oct 2018 Art&Soul Tribe - Jane Bellis 185.00 06-Nov 2018 Tadmark - Event programme 249.18

12-Nov 2018 Andy & Paula Events 350.00 14-Feb 2019 WHSmith - pen USB drives 59.96 28-Feb 2019 WHSmith - pen USB drives 9.99

Total £1,200.00 Remembrance Sunday Event

12-Nov 2018 Makeup ClareLouise - face painter 60.00 13-Nov 2018 Professor Lussern - Hedd Wyn & Town Crier 200.00 15-Nov 2018 Holywell Town Band - performance 350.00 16-Nov 2018 Holywell Town Band - sheet music 50.00 07-Dec 2018 Carmel & Holywell Woodcrafters 180.00 11-Jan 2019 Flint Ladies Choir 100.00 14-Jan 2019 St. John's Ambulance 35.00

Total £975.00

*£200 Reinvested: Wilfred Owen Gallery donation £50, Welsh Merseyside Society donation £30, SSL website

certificate from Delwedd Media £57.59, print cost £4, volunteer meeting refreshment on 10 Nov 2018 £8.39,

refreshments from Lidl for school stalls at Commemoration Event £38.88 and Poppy Fields Books for event quiz

£15.08: Total spend: £203.94. Please note; some payment dates made on a weekend day end of month will

show as 2 days later, i.e., 30th can appear as 2nd in a new month.