Walsall Archive for All blog - May 2026: Meet Jack!
Engagement delivery update – May 2026
Over the past few months, the Walsall Archive for All (WAFA) project has been steadily building momentum, connecting with communities across the borough and beginning an important journey to reshape how Walsall’s stories are collected, shared and celebrated.
WAFA is a two-year project led by Walsall Council, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with a clear ambition: to make the borough’s archives more inclusive, accessible and reflective of the people who live here.
At its heart is the digitisation of the remarkable Jack Haddock Collection, a rich visual and audio record of post-war Walsall, captured by a local intrepid cyclist and his trusty camera! But just as importantly, the project is about the present and future: inviting residents to see themselves in the archive and contribute their own stories.
Image
Community pop-ups
Which image feels most like your Walsall? What would you add to tell your story of the borough? What feels different to the images Jack caught?
Since launching, we’ve been out and about across the borough to better understand what these images mean and inspire in our communities.
A key part of this early work has been our “Meet Jack Haddock” pop-up sessions, where we’ve joined community events and spaces to introduce photographs from the collection to better understand what is most interesting to them today. From local events and community hubs to informal pop-ups, we’ve engaged around 200 people so far, building relationships with over 15 partner organisations and gathering valuable insight through conversations and workshops.
Some of our younger audiences have got stuck in with archive scavenger hunts, using magnifying glasses to explore images in detail and reflect on what imagery and spaces would best reflect their own experience of the borough.
What we’re learning
We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and stories already emerging. From markets, mysteries around local buildings, favourite bus routes to reflections on the changes of industry and its impact on the area, we are already learning more about what matters to our communities and what we need to better reflect.
Join us!
And these insights are already shaping the next stages of the project. Our upcoming public events from June onwards will offer more hands-on and workshops opportunities for people to get involved.
With volunteer opportunities and a call-out for archival material underway, there are lots of ways to get involved. If you're keen to find out more, email us to get in touch.