Add your story to Cheshire Archives Women project

The ‘20,000 Women Zine Project’ is collecting the voices and stories of women and girls living in Cheshire in 2026 to preserve them for future generations.

The project aims to address the historic underrepresentation of women in Cheshire Archives by encouraging people of all ages to create and submit a zine, a small self-made publication, about a woman or girl that they know.  It can include writing, drawings, photographs, collage, or digital media. Submitted zines will become part of a special archive collection, creating a remarkable snapshot of life in Cheshire in 2026. A selection will also be displayed in the new archive centres in Chester and Crewe in 2027.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said:

“You could share a day in your life, talk about favourite places, ambitions, challenges, family stories, journeys, achievements or hopes for the future. The aim is to capture what life is like for women and girls in Cheshire today.

“I have challenged myself to write my own Zine, knowing that there is no right or wrong way to take part, so I look forward to being one of the 20,000 target.”

Resources are available online including a short introductory film, an accessible digital zine maker and educational materials for schools.

For information on how to create and submit a zine, visit:

www.cheshirestoryshared.org/home/archives-in-action-20000-women

Or contact:

RecordOffice@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk.

The project is inspired by a wider programme exploring how women's stories have shaped Cheshire's communities, workplaces, families and culture.

For more information about the whole project Cheshire Archives Women project please visit:

www.cheshirestoryshared.org/home/women-from-the-archives

Cheshire Archives will be opening two new purpose-built Archive Centres in Chester and Crewe in early 2027. Construction of the two new Archive Centres has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation, an independent, grant-making charity with a focus on research and education.