“Rise Up! Remember the Weavers Uprising

Volunteering, jobs & education

The WUBC built on previous networking by involving a much greater number of local residents and members of the community in the 198th Commemoration activities - around 140 members of the public attended the event in April 2024. In addition, our enhanced publicity and website has engaged a more diverse range of people who are helping us identify and record specific details of the Weavers Remembrance Walks and engage with community talks. Our work in organising community meetings has drawn in a greater number of volunteers to identify and document the Weavers Uprising of 1826 and create the basis of a mobile exhibition & publicity materials –‘Rise Up’: The 1826 Weavers Uprising & Chatterton Massacre’ for future use with libraries, museums, schools colleges & community spaces. We have successfully negotiated for the public display of the Rise Up Banner in The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery (launched February 2025).

Arts, culture & heritage

There has been widespread community participation in the commemorations & later community events. This has included local heritage sites, libraries, museums and history groups. We gave members of the public the opportunity to participate directly in the April 2024 free event by displaying small wooden crosses and laying a remembrance wreath in a designated area, as part of the commemorations and with spoken word performances by community volunteers. We had musical performances from the Water Brass Band, the Ramshackle Wailers, Caffrey McGurk Madge and the True Levellers Samba Band (procession). After the 198th Commemoration event itself, the WUBC have offered free & accessible 'Weavers Remembrance Walks' organised in collaboration with local walking groups. Longer term we will be able to support education in local schools & the community through provision of over 100 free copies of the ‘Rise Up’ Publication available in local museums and other heritage sites (currently in production for delivery in 2026). The newly created WUBC website offers free access to digital downloadable written resources, compiled by the WUBC volunteers, as well as video recordings of the walking routes. The much longer term impact will provide not only acknowledgement and remembrance of past events but will also be helpful for people living today.

Activity, health and leisure

There has been widespread participation of members of the community in the commemoration event and subsequent talks and walks. This includes the WUBC work on (a) the remembrance walks, to aid wellbeing, (b) the probability that some of the volunteers that have signed up for the WUBC also support other heritage sites in the region, and (c) that the collective working experience and ‘being part of something’ is a wellbeing aid for all of those who contribute to the active organisation and delivery of the commemorations. Ultimately our work in establishing our digital presence through the website, organising community meetings and talks, has drawn in a greater number of volunteers to help identify and document the Weavers Uprising of 1826 and create the basis of a future WUBC mobile exhibition for enjoyment by the wider local community.