Help Capture Paisley’s Voices for the Future

Paisley has always been a town of voices.

From the roar of the looms in Anchor, Ferguslie, Mile End and Seedhill Mills… to the bustle of Brown & Polson’s, Robertson’s Jam, the harbour, the shipyards and the shops… to the laughter in our closes and tenements… every voice carried a piece of who we are.

Generations gave their lives to this town. Their graft, their struggles, their triumphs and their joy made Paisley what it is. But unless we act now, too many of those stories risk being lost forever.

For the first time, Paisley will create a living archive of its people. Not a book or a plaque, but the real voices of Paisley folk – captured, recorded, and preserved for generations to come.

This isn’t about great men and big events. It’s about the everyday lives that shaped us all. It’s about a mill worker’s story of the nightshift whistle. A shop girl’s memory of her first wage packet. A grandmother’s laugh as she remembers dancing in the Coats Hall. A neighbour’s tale of the harbour when it was alive with ships.

Imagine one day, daughters, sons, and grandchildren being able to not only see a photo of their loved ones – but to hear their voices telling the story of their lives, in their own words. That’s what we’re building together.

This has never been done before. And it begins with you.

All it takes is 400 people donating £5 each to make it real.

What We Will Do

Collect oral histories from people of all ages and backgrounds – because everyone’s voice matters.

Involve journalism students, giving them hands-on experience while helping preserve Paisley’s story.

Create a digital archive to safeguard these voices forever – accessible, secure and open.

Stage exhibitions and displays, bringing history alive in our most iconic spaces.

Host drop-ins and community sessions, where anyone can step forward and add their story.

Why We Need Your Help

We are applying for grant support – but grants don’t cover everything. We need our own community to help us add the touches that make this project welcoming, dynamic, and unique.

We are raising £2,000 to cover:

These are the vital elements that make the project open, professional and lasting.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just a project. This is Paisley making history.

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us capture the soul of our town. Every £5 is a step closer to a future where Paisley speaks not only through its buildings and books but through the living words of its people.

We already have a community of 37,000 followers, reaching over 1.4 million people every month. That’s proof of how much Paisley’s story matters. Now, we need just 400 of you to step forward and make this archive real.

Be one of the 400. Be part of Paisley’s future.

How You Can Help

Together for Paisley.

Together we will make history.

With 37,000 voices already behind us, let’s make sure Paisley speaks – not just for today, but for generations to come.

It begins with you.