The Great War – Through a London Child’s Eye (Parts 1 & 2)

Inspiring Audio was awarded ‘HLF First World War: Then and Now’ grants to create audio programmes, animated videos and workshop activities to help contextualise and introduce children to London life before and during the First World War. The series explores what life looked, sounded and smelled like through the eyes of a child.

Please listen to an episode here:

The first two series covered life ahead of the war with the second series exploring how life had changed by 1916 because of the war. A third series explored life after the war and also remembrance.

In addition, working with a range of museums across London, including the Islington Museum, Croydon Museum, Burgh House & Hampstead Museum, Geffyre Museum and Postal Heritage Museum, we have hosted either children’s events where children can come along with their families and get a unique glimpse into aspects of London life during the early years of the First World War, or have linked facts discussed in the programmes to objects to be seen at each museum.

We also created animated videos of each audio programme for viewing online and through YouTube.

Our aspiration is that by explaining the social context to the conflict, children will better understand other content about the Great War they will encounter over the coming centenary years.

The audio series was broadcast on Fun Kids, the UK’s only radio station dedicated to children, and BFBS, which broadcasts radio services to military families in British overseas bases, and remains available to listen again online and for download through iTunes.

To hear the created audio, click here.

To visit the online educational resources, click here.