To mark 100 years since the end of World War One, YouthLink Scotland’s new heritage project with young researchers will uncover Scotland’s wartime heroines and explore women’s rights past and present.
As part of Year of Young People 2018 and the centenary of World War One, Youngwummin, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in Scotland, will provide young people with an opportunity to explore women’s history and support them to conduct research on the impact of the war on young women in Scotland.
Five youth projects across the country will use their historical detective powers to seek out the incredible Scottish women who helped win the war, but who also paved the way for women’s right to equality. Dumfries and Galloway Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Shaper/Caper Dundee, Stirling Council and Yipworld will work in partnership with the National Library of Scotland, who will train youth workers in heritage skills and also host a Youngwummin exhibition during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Young researchers in Dumfries have already uncovered the unusual and life-saving tale of Sphagnum Moss Works. During the war Dumfriesshire was at the forefront of supplying wound dressings for field hospitals by using moss from the surrounding hills, all organised and run by local women. Eskdale alone contributed over 70,000 dressings for wounded soldiers.
As part of Youngwummin, YouthLink Scotland are also launching a nationwide search to uncover women during World War One who helped the war effort.
They state: “Every community in Scotland will have local heroines who have not yet been recognised. So help us celebrate their legacy and share your stories and photos with us on www.scotswummin.org.”