The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a research project over £50,000 to explore African social customs and cultural beliefs.

The 12-month “Ampabame Village and the Family” pilot scheme, run by volunteers from Living God International Bible Ministry (LGIBM) in Stratford, looks at the Extended Family System in the Ashanti Culture and its significance.

A website, a day event, two day trips, a travelling exhibition tour, and an e-book of archive photographs and interviews will be made available for people with African heritage to learn about the past.

Dennis Mensah of LGIBM, who also ran The Echoes of Benin Kingdom/British Conflict 1897 project with Plaistow’s Newham African Resource Centre last year, said: “We are honoured to receive a grant award of £53,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. “This will enable us to deliver a project that will ensure a wider range of people are involved in participating in activities and making decisions about Ashanti Heritage.”

Local volunteers team up with the British Museum, Oral History Society, Aston Mansfield (Community Involvement Unit) and African Youth Organisation to deliver the project.