MAKING their own history, a pioneering scheme that has been run by and for young people has proved to be a success.A three-town heritage initiative, entitled East Angles: Shifting Sands, is linking the efforts of young people in Lowestoft, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth in creating two heritage exhibitions researched and put together by the youngsters.

MAKING their own history, a pioneering scheme that has been run by and for young people has proved to be a success.

A three-town heritage initiative, entitled East Angles: Shifting Sands, is linking the efforts of young people in Lowestoft, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth in creating two heritage exhibitions researched and put together by the youngsters.

And on Saturday, at Greenfields café and wine bar in Surrey Road, Lowestoft, the Enterprise Lowestoft community interest company and Heritage Lottery Foundation-funded project was unveiled.

After a year of intense activity involving young people from all phases of education in the three towns, the project has celebrated the heritage of Lowestoft, Gorleston and Yarmouth as seen through the eyes of young people from primary school through to sixth form.

Seventeen schools from the towns have been involved in the project, exploring and interpreting the common heritage in less conventional ways.

In Lowestoft, Denes and Kirkley High School, Elm Tree Primary, Harris Middle, Roman Hill Primary, Old Warren House, the Ashley School, Corton Primary and the Warren School have all been looking at various aspects of life in the town.

And following the exhibition launch, which was opened by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard, games and exhibits in both 2D and 3D will be on display in sites through Yarmouth and Gorleston from Monday.

Tomorrow, the sister exhibition will be launched at Great Yarmouth Library, with the opening performed by television personality Helen McDermott.

As well as the many numerous schemes and ideas, year three students at Roman Hill Primary also produced an animated film during a two-day workshop with professional animator Emily May; while pupils at Elm Tree Primary produced large stormy sea paintings following a visit to the Maritime Museum as well as being inspired by listening to shipping forecasts that predicted bad weather.

Special mentions were also made to the Old Warren House, for a series of framed photographs and the Herring bunting; Corton Primary, for winning the Shifting Sands essay competition; and Kirkley High School, for producing the East Angles website.

Waveney MP Bob Blizzard said: “Learning about our past helps us to understand the present day, learn lessons and prepare for the future. This project is an excellent way

for young people to discover the heritage of Lowestoft and Yarmouth and how much they have in common. The exhibition contains high quality work and I urge people to go and see it.”

Hazel Johnson, of Enterprise Lowestoft, said: “It was a delight to see how engaged the young students were when they sang their sea shanties at the exhibition's launch. This project has helped establish new relationships between the Lowestoft, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth schools, which have helped develop a wider appreciation of our unique shared heritage - not just as part of history but also part of our living present.”