Our Living History, Told by You
Our Living History, Told by You
Lives in Gloucestershire, has a degree in history from Oxford and is a member of the External Advisory Panel for the History Faculty at Oxford University. Roles have included Senior Leader in private and not-for-profit sectors managing annual budgets of over £25 million, founding trustee of charity supporting 10-year cultural heritage project to open a museum and library in Basra, Iraq, and trustee and director of The John Smith Trust running fellowship programme for the next generation of young leaders in wider Europe and central Asia.
Arriving in Gloucester in 2003 with a background in magazine journalism, marketing and public relations, Kay quickly fell for her adopted hometown, discovering a city with depth, bucket loads of creativity, and a sense of humour – a place rich in heritage and also very present – packed with potential.
Tiah has over 15 years experience supporting projects across the arts sector. From 2013 – 2021 she coordinated national and international partnership projects and exhibitions at the Tate Gallery. Previous to this she has worked at the environmental arts charity Julie’s Bicycle, at Central Saint Martins School of Art and coordinated arts projects for a London secondary school and its local community.
County Archivist, Heather Forbes, has been involved in the community engagement strand of Gloucester History Festival as a volunteer since the inception of Voices Gloucester in 2016. She is also a founder member of Gloucester Heritage Forum (now vice-chair) and loves to work collaboratively with heritage colleagues and a wide range of community groups across the city and beyond.
Tony Conder, retired Museum Curator and now Volunteer with Gloucester Civic Trust. Researches Gloucester’s History and gives guided tours and talks about it.
I have always believed that the most powerful tool we have for social repair isn’t a machine or a policy—it’s a story.
As an academic at the University of Gloucestershire, I spend much of my time thinking about how to design narratives that can bring us closer to social justice. But at the heart of all that research is a very human question: How do we truly belong to a place and to each other?
This question is what led me to Voices Gloucester. As a migrant myself, I understand the quiet challenge of finding “home” in a new place. Through the patchworkx initiative and my work alongside migrant communities, I have seen how sharing our journeys helps us heal and connect. My goal is to listen to the voices that have been sidelined and to find wisdom in our shared experiences, especially through those stories that cannot always be told in words.
For me, being on the board is about more than governance; it’s about nurturing a space where everyone’s experience contributes. Voices Gloucester was a vital support for my own journey, and now I am honored to give that support back. I want to help us find thoughtful ways to connect, making sure we all have a part to play in our community’s future.
Sarah Goddard is a sight-impaired mixed-media artist and writer, based in Cheltenham. Sarah is a former recipient of a Voices Grant, for the podcast series Sight Loss Then and Now: investigating experiences of sight loss in Gloucestershire in the 19th and 21st centuries through drama, discussion and lived experience. Sarah holds voluntary roles for a number of third sector and cultural organisations, and became a Voices Gloucester trustee in November 2025.
Rider is a lyricist, MC, artist and producer, with an international profile. He is the founder of I-Dentity, a movement that uses performance and visual arts to explore identity and celebrate diversity. As a Director of the Picturedrome he hosts cultural events, Black Cinema monthly & exhibitions.
For over 30 years I have worked with people from all backgrounds, of all ages, and in all kinds of settings to tell stories, celebrate, connect and support each other. This has ranged from producing huge cultural events including a Mela in the Midlands, and the Cowley Road Carnival in Oxford; to designing and delivering sensitive creative projects to support people have better experiences in health, social or education situations. Over the last two decades in Gloucestershire I have been passionate about people and heritage; working with communities to co create projects in estates, heritage locations and parks, as well as working at a senior level to ensure everyone has access to quality cultural activity.
I have worked in the cultural sector for over 25 years, fundraising and strategically developing organisations and festivals, including English National Opera, London Film Festival, Cheltenham Festivals, Gloucester Culture Trust, Gloucestershire Counselling Service, Stroud Valley Artspace and Gloucester History Festival. Working on the Voices Gloucester programme development for the last 6 years has been incredibly exciting supporting joined-up working and community co-curation.
Ashley is the Engagement Manager for adult and family programming at the National Museum of Scotland. She was previously the Engagement Officer at the Museum of Gloucester and on the Community Panel for Voices Gloucester before taking on the role of Trustee.
She has worked in the arts, culture & heritage sector for over 15 years in New Zealand, England and Scotland as a museum educator connecting people with objects and places; as a youth worker helping young people find a sense of belonging; and as an events producer and curator bringing art, culture and people together to create experiences, to create beautiful moments, and to start conversations.
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