THE first British Chinese Heritage Project in the West Midlands has been launched with the help of a former Worcester Sixth Form College student.

WaiLo Li, aged 29, helped coordinate the 15 month-long legacy project in her spare time and it was created to capture the hidden histories of Birmingham's Chinese community.

It was officially launched at the Cube in Birmingham on Thursday, May 15 and the exhibition was opened to the public at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts on Saturday, May 17 and it will remain open until Sunday, June 8.

Ms Li said: “It's been an absolute privilege to be part of the project, both as a volunteer and as a participant. Some of the interviewees in their 80s and 90s have got absolutely fascinating tales to tell - of determination, grit and courage from their journeys of migration.

"It's been really inspirational and crucial to capture before it's too late."

She added: " The historical project looks at the lives of individual migrants and British Chinese through different life stories, as well as the development of the Chinese community in Birmingham - an integral part of the city's history over the last six decades."

Ms Li is also the founder of Project TOM, which is a voluntary, non-profit group that encourages more young people into charity work.

The heritage project was awarded a grant of £35,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and it is spearheaded by the Chinese Community Centre Birmingham in Digbeth.