In January 2025, following a UK wide promotion of the project, a team of nine volunteers came together for the launch meeting of the project.

About our partner: a reminder

The National HIV Story Trust (NHST) films, records, and preserves the stories of survivors, families, partners, and medical professionals affected by the AIDS pandemic of the 1980s and 90s.

To date NHST has published over twenty stories remembering the 40 year history of HIV, as Love, Life and Loss. Real Stories from the AIDS Pandemic by Rupert Everett, Lord Fowler, Jane Anderson and many more.

NHST’s interview footage collected to date has been donated to The London Archive (formerly known as the London Metropolitan Archive) for public and research access and as a record in perpetuity.

Activity to date

The volunteers came together with members of the forum steering committee and the archive team for on-line training in conducting and recording oral history interviews. Each member now has a digital recording device and on-line support and guidance via monthly meetings.

Although training has been delivered online, the interviews are being conducted in person, at or near an agreed workplace or home.

We aimed to recruit one lead interviewer from each country and region of the RCN, twelve in total. However, we still need volunteers from Wales, Eastern and Northern regions. If you are interested, please contact the forum chair, Dianne Yarwood. 

Volunteers are now meeting monthly on-line for support and advice. There is a dedicated on-line ‘Teams’ group hosting guides and training resources for conducting oral history interviews. And a place to ask questions and share experiences.

We aim to interview a range of nursing voices reflecting the breadth and depth of different care settings around the UK. We are interested in stories from nursing and care staff as well as from experts in the field of nursing individuals affected by HIV.

Once the project has bedded in, and in partnership with the NHST we will be sharing these stories publicly, to raise the visibility of the roles of nurses and nursing, and the impact on individual nursing staff. We are keen to hear from the full range of nursing/caring staff, be they midwives, health visitors, support workers or managers.

Benefits of volunteering

Volunteers have received dedicated training in oral history interview techniques and copyright requirements. Can now interview members of the RCN about this important aspect of our history. There will also be the opportunity to carry out longer interviews with members who had specialist experience in nursing people with HIV-AIDS.

Commitment

All volunteers have attended the on-line training sessions and should new members join the group individualised training will be available. We each plan to conduct at least two interviews in the first six months of 2025. There will also be opportunities to continue with oral history activity after 2025.

If you’re interesting in finding out more, or to seek clarification please get in touch via History of Nursing Forum, or Dianne Yarwood.

Important dates