Representatives from Dorset museums, libraries and seniors organisations have visited the Tank Museum to find out how they can contribute to the BBCs `Peoples War` project.

BBC South West Outreach Officer Gwyneth Brooks said; “We visited the Tank Museum with our Peoples War stand during TANKFEST and encouraged older people & veterans to add their stories and experiences to this impressive on-line resource.

“Since then, other museums, libraries and community archives have expressed an interest in holding similar awareness building events, and so we decided to gather all the interested parties here at The Tank Museum to share the positive experience we had here earlier this year.”

Dorset County Council Museum Advisor David Tucker said; “A big problem with this Internet-based project is that old people, whose stories it is we want to record, are the one age group who have the least access to that medium.

“This is why other organisations have been encouraged to get involved; firstly in an effort to preserve the wealth of wartime stories to compliment formal histories and educate future generations in a new an innovative way, and secondly, to encourage older people to use technology in libraries and day centres.”

Gwyneth Brooks added; “We also see Peoples War as a way of bringing families together and provoking a discussion between the generations. In assisting the older generation inputting their experiences, the younger generation are able to get a better understanding of what that older generation went through and why.”

“By extending the `reach` of Peoples War through other community organisations, we hope that we will encourage more people to take part – whether they wish to write down their stories of browse the thousands already on line.”

Look out for details of future Peoples War events in the local media, or visit www.bbc.co.uk/ww2