My journey with the Middle Street project

A. Madhavi H. Jayawardana

A. Madhavi H. Jayawardana at the launch of the Middle Street Heritage Project exhibition at Central Library Nottingham, 04th December 2023.

I am delighted to get selected for the role of Heritage Intern in the project at Middle Street Resources Centre during my MA Museum and Heritage Development course at Nottingham Trent University. As I am always keen onto work with community-based activities and interact with people this project really appealed to me. The Centre supports mental health and wellbeing in the community. There are many programmes run by the centre with the help of mental support groups, therapeutic one to one support, volunteering opportunities, creative activities as well as many community-based activities.

In the first month of my placement, I have learned the importance of mental health and wellbeing, and that this should be ones priority in the life. The first day of the internship started at Central Library Nottingham, installing the exhibition equipment and creative art and craft works done by members of the Middle Street community as part of the Fifty Years of Middle Street project. I was assigned to collect the survey forms from the visitors who visit the library, to see what they thought of the exhibition. The exhibition was colourful and meaningful. The visitors were curious enough to look at the information written, and crafts were made, and I always had very natural interactions with the diverse range of people who were visiting the library and stopping to view the exhibition.

Central Library, 19 January 2024.

When I finished my MA degree, I shall work in the heritage sector combining exhibitions with educating people who visit the museum and heritage events. Through carrying out the evaluation surveys, I learnt lots of tolerance and patience towards the different opinions and approaches of the visitors, and I became confident to speak and communicate with the strangers about the project. I have also supported the many free talks and free workshops that have been run for the public, regarding mental health care, mental health and Nottinghamshire archives, writing mental health, the art of self-care (craft workshop) and fifty years of middle street (film showing).

A. Madhavi H. Jayawardana at the Art of self-care (craft workshop) and making her crafts with other participants for the fifty years of middle street heritage project, 20th January 2024.

This project has changed my ideas of the mental health. I have realized that Mindfulness is more important than another thing. That project has enhanced my interest to read more about the mental health and how it helps people to overcome this issue working with other members friendly and discuss relevant topics about the respective themes.

Furthermore, I would glad to thank Dr. Dale Copley and Dr. Verusca Calabria to giving me this valuable opportunity and immense support given me to be a part of this precious project.

Thank you so much and wish you all the best!!!

A.Madhavi H. Jayawardana (Sri Lanka)