Popular protest is on the rise but there’s a long history of women’s activism in the North and now researchers are calling for women in the region to step forward and share their stories.

‘Remembering Resistance: A Century of Women’s Protest in the North of England’ is a new project from Lancaster University that brings the history of women’s activism to life.

Researcher Dr Sarah Marsden, a lecturer in Protest in a Digital Age, working with Dr Chris Boyko, a lecturer in Design, is calling for women to take part.

“We are looking for women who have fought for political change and who are willing to tell their stories. We’re interested in all kinds of activism, so if you’ve spent time campaigning or protesting over recent decades in the North of England, we want to hear from you,” explained Dr Marsden.

“We want to ensure that the memories of women activists aren’t lost and that women’s role in political protest is heard. It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant you feel your memories are, we are interested so please get in touch. Everything counts.

“We’re also looking for volunteer citizen researchers to help gather information and collect people’s stories, so there are plenty of ways to get involved.”

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, ‘Remembering Resistance’ is inspired by the centenary of the Representation of the People’s Act, the law that gave all men and some women the right to vote.

To mark this milestone in women’s rights, the project will bring to life the last 100 years of women’s involvement in protests in the North of England.

‘Remembering Resistance’ will develop a rich picture of when, where, and why women have fought for change and identify the ten most significant sites of women’s resistance in the North.

The project will celebrate, catalogue, and engage the public in women’s efforts to bring about political change by creating a permanent archive of women’s activism to inspire future generations.

Working with citizen researchers, ‘Remembering Resistance’ will map the last century of protest by charting the routes that protests took, and the strategies protesters used, as well as collating artefacts associated with protest movements.

Dr Marsden and Dr Boyko are planning a programme of public engagement events and activities to record this aspect of heritage.

The outcome of the project will be integrated into the archives of local museums, and will contribute to their programmes on the struggle for women’s suffrage.

To learn more about the project, including how to become a volunteer citizen researcher or an interviewee, please visit the website: www.rememberingresistance.com, follow the project on Twitter @rememberresist or email the team: rememberingresistance@gmail.com