Caring Scotland
The Sound Collection
National Library of Scotland & Online
Permanent | Audio Archive
Overview
The Sound Collection is part of Caring Scotland, a far-reaching oral history project created by the National Theatre of Scotland that will document the lives and experiences of at least 100 members of the care experienced community in Scotland.
Over the course of eighteen months, from Autumn 2024 until early 2026, we have been working with care experienced communities across the country. The invitation was to share their own story in their own words that would live in perpetuity and form The Sound Collection within the National Library of Scotland Sound Collection, as well as on our website.
These stories have also inspired the touring installation One Hundred Voices and the photographic exhibition Ten Portraits. The project aims to raise the profile, celebrate the achievements and foster empowerment of the care experienced community and is inspired by the practice of playwright and socially engaged theatre-maker, Nicola McCartney.
In the end, we listened to 102 stories. Below is you will find a selection of extracts from the stories of those who gave us permission to share them here with you. You can find the full archive of stories in the National Library of Scotland Sound Collection either in person or online.
Lead Artist: Nicola McCartney
National Theatre of Scotland in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland and the National Library of Scotland, funded with an award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Supported by The Weir Charitable Trust and The Rayne Foundation
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Caring Scotland is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
