A CUMBRIAN charity is looking to learn more about the role migration has to play in the region.

The Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) has been awarded £46,700 for its 'Hidden Stories - Shared Lives' partnership project.

Led by volunteers from the local community, the project aims to examine the cultural heritage map of Cumbria by gathering and sharing the stories of migration in Cumbria.

Paul Jenkins, the Hidden Stories project manager at CDEC said that the charity was 'thrilled' to have received the Heritage Lottery Fund money.

"I think it's important that we hear these stories so that we can recognise the diversity of Cumbria," he said. "That diversity goes largely unnoticed, I would say.

Although Cumbria has a lower than average black and minority ethnic (BME) population, Paul said that it was still a county hugely influenced by migration, which was something that needed more attention paying to it.

"We are a really diverse county," he said. "It's important that we foster an understanding of the diversity of the county."

The project, which is a partnership between CDEC, AWAZ Cumbria, South Lakeland District Council, Cumberland - A Secret History and South Lakes Equality and Diversity Partnership, will focus on recent as well as historical migration.

The project begins over the summer months with research into existing resources on historical migration, including museum collections, that map the historical movement of people in Cumbria down through the ages.

Volunteers will be invited to research contemporary Cumbrian migration stories in South Lakeland, Allerdale and Copeland. They will receive training through the Oral History Society and support to research and record real life migration stories.

The stories and research will then come together to create a unique oral history archive that will form the backbone of an innovative travelling exhibition and learning resources. The exhibition will visit libraries, museums and schools, as well as being made accessible online.

The Hidden Stories project does not officially launch until the autumn, but Paul has said that those who want to help collect the stories are welcome to get in touch in advance by contacting paul@cdec.org.uk.