The Discovering Donisthorpe display will be on show this Sunday - demonstrating the commitment of all those involved despite a delay due to the pandemic.

In 2019, Donisthorpe Youth Club began the project with a generous grant received from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, as well as funding from North West Leicestershire District Council.

Beginning in March of that year, it was to teach young people about the heritage of Donisthorpe through its industries and social changes over the past 100 years.

The project also looked at how these changes have impacted on the village, its community and the surrounding area.

Through interviews, questionnaires and hosting events, young people have discovered how much the village has altered in its construction, but that, fundamentally, the strong sense of community that brought its residents together still survives today.

The project included a visit to Shackerstone Railway along the Battlefield Line, a ride in a barge along Ashby Canal from Sutton Cheney Wharf, as well as a trip to the National Coal Mining Museum at Overton where they discovered what life was like on the coal face.

But, like many things, it came to an abrupt end in March 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic with just three weeks to go before its completion. 

Due to various delays, the youngsters managed to regroup before Christmas last year and finally complete the project. 

The volunteers who ran the project said: "The young people have been astounding in their commitment to the project and have learnt so much about our village. 

"They have worked extremely hard on all aspects and we are so proud of what they have achieved and they should be too!"

This coming Sunday, the full project will be on display at Donisthorpe Youth Club, Church Street. DE12 7PY, showcasing all the hard work that the young people have achieved. 

This includes a publication of Discovering Donisthorpe – A Snapshot of Times, a fully working model of Donisthorpe Station and Railway called Donisthorpe 1925, the first public viewing of their slide show - Voices of Living History- and the launch of the Heritage Trail.

Also, in attendance will be the Heart of the Forest Heritage Group and the Magic Attic amongst others.

The event will be run from 2pm until 4.30pm with light refreshments.