Forged by Fire is an innovative set of resources designed for students of different ages to learn about community, place, and resilience through the history of burns injuries in twentieth century Britain.
The resources include a story map of activities which allow students to explore the different places and communities which came together following the 1985 Bradford City stadium fire. There are also drama workshops based on real stories of heroism as interpreted by students at Beckfoot Thornton school in Bradford. These are aimed at Key Stage 2 and above.
The resources also include workshop materials co-produced with Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and students at Knowetop Primary School in Motherwell, which can be tailored to explore the sacrifice and bravery of fallen firefighters in local communities across the country. These are aimed at P7 (Scotland) / Key Stage 1 level.
These, and other stories, are published in the graphic novel Forged by Fire: An Illustrated History of Burns in the 20th Century' through which students can learn about burns prevention, care, safety, and empathy.
These resources were created as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project 'Forged by Fire: Burns Injury and Identity in Britain, 1800-2000' (grant number AH/N00664X/1). Learn more about the project.