Voices Through Time’s Transcription Project is an important project, uncovering the stories of children at the Foundling Hospital and making them available to a wide audience. However, it’s our volunteers that are making this all possible.

Here are four reasons why you should join our wonderful community of volunteers on this special project:

1. Make this history accessible to everyone
Because of the current fragile and vulnerable condition of many of these records, it’s not easy for people to access them. With your help, we will be able to make them available on this website for free. People in any location or situation will be able to view them, giving them the opportunity to learn about the Foundling Hospital history and the lives of children in care in the past.

2. Get inspired by the fascinating history of care in the past
You will get an insight into the everyday life of children at the Foundling Hospital. Each new record will reveal another piece of the puzzle, giving you the chance to discover all about the Hospital, the history of care and about life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

3. Have fun and volunteer in a way that works for you
You can volunteer from the comfort of your own home and the time commitment is completely flexible. Spend ten minutes or ten hours transcribing – it’s completely up to you.

4. Become part of our volunteer community
You’ll become part of our community of volunteers, sharing and discussing the records and history together. As the project goes on, there will be opportunities to meet new people, attend events, learn and develop new skills.