Community History in Focus: Eastside Community Heritage
As part of the next phase of the Creative Newham Cultural Producers programme, four teams of producers are collaborating with local organisations to explore pressing social justice issues through creative, community-led events. Today, we spotlight one of the theme’s our producers will be exploring: ‘Culture & Heritage’, in partnership with long-standing oral history charity Eastside Community Heritage, led by Executive Director Judith Garfield MBE.
Founded in 1993 and based in East London, Eastside Community Heritage (ECH) is a specialist organisation dedicated to recording, preserving and celebrating community history. Their work helps communities capture and share the lived experiences, memories and cultural heritage of local people - ensuring that the stories of East London’s ever-changing population are not lost, but honoured and heard.
The group of Cultural Producers working with ECH have been tasked with designing a small-scale, high-impact event that explores how culture and heritage can reinforce a sense of identity, belonging, and local pride. In a borough as dynamic and diverse as Newham -where communities often experience displacement, housing pressures, or cultural marginalisation - this project offers an important opportunity to reflect on whose stories are told, and how.
Guided by Judith’s decades of experience in oral history, community engagement and heritage training, the team will work closely with ECH’s Hidden Histories archive and storytelling methodology to shape a creative response that brings local culture to life.
We’ll be following the team’s journey over the coming weeks—sharing insights, behind-the-scenes updates and conversations from across Newham. Expect voices from the past and present, new discoveries, and a deep celebration of local identity.
About Eastside Community Heritage
Eastside Community Heritage was established in 1993 as part of the Stratford City Challenge community history project and became an independent charity in 1998. In 1999 Eastside Community Heritage established the Hidden Histories archive formerly known as the East London People’s Archive which now holds over 4,000 oral histories, thousands of photographs and video material all preserved and archived for public benefit. Eastside Community Heritage is also an accredited cultural heritage training centre, specialising in Oral History – QCF Level 1, 2 and 3.
Eastside Community Heritage is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
About Judith Garfield MBE
MBE, Executive Director
With ECH since 1998, Judith is responsible for the organisation’s core work programme. Judith has trained over 60 community groups in oral history and is currently delivering an oral history “apprenticeship”, an NVQ accredited qualification unique to the UK. Previous to joining ECH, Judith was a set designer and stage manager at Theatre Royal Stratford East, working with Mike Leigh. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2012 for her work and her commitment to Community Heritage
