"FASCINATING" stories of people who have made Cumbria their home are to be shared across the county, thanks to a lottery grant.

The original Hidden Stories Shared Lives project recorded the memories and thoughts of 50 people born abroad, sharing their own journeys to Cumbria.

Now, the Ambleside-based charity behind the recordings - Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) - has won funding to take the exhibition and workshop out on the road.The Awards for All grant was given by the Big Lottery Fund.

"This is fabulous news for the communities of Cumbria," said Laura Goad, director of CDEC.

"The original Hidden Stories project had such a strong following and heart, and collected a huge number of fascinating and different stories from our communities, which we want to continue to share and learn from."

Among the first outings for the exhibition will be the Kendal Unity Festival, on Saturday, June 23, where it will be on display at the Unitarian Chapel all day. An hour-long workshop will take place at 2pm, exploring the meaning of home, belonging, community and identity. Simply turn up, there is no need to book.

The Kendal event will be one of many workshops and exhibitions to be held at 12 Cumbrian venues between June and November. For dates and locations, see www.hidden-stories.co.uk, where snippets of the interviews can also be heard, as well as at local studies centres.

Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) - based at Low Nook, Rydal Road, Ambleside - is a charity that sets out to promote "awareness of the wider world and our responsibility as citizens of it to the Cumbrian community". For more, see www.cdec.org.uk