About Us

■ About the Archive

About Crossing Borders

Crossing Borders: Sikh Stories That Shape Britain is a national community history, oral archive and education project documenting the experiences, contributions and voices of Sikh communities across the United Kingdom.

The project brings together oral histories, photographs, documents, research and personal memories to create a growing public record of Sikh life in Britain.

At its heart is a simple belief:
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The history of a community is part of the history of the country it helped shape.

Dr Dalvir Kaur Gill – Project Leader

Dr Dalvir Kaur Gill is an academic, educator and community researcher with a longstanding commitment to education, social justice, inclusion and amplifying unheard voices. With more than 30 years of national and international experience across eight public-sector institutions, including six universities, she is currently based at University College London (UCL).

As Project Leader, Dalvir is passionate about bringing to light the stories that too often remain unheard. She believes that history belongs not only to the prominent and powerful, or to those whose names appear in history books, but equally to the ordinary Sikh men, women and children whose courage, sacrifice, resilience and everyday experiences have helped shape modern Britain.

Her vision for Crossing Borders is to create a lasting space for these voices to listen to them, honour them and preserve their experiences so that they become part of Britain’s shared historical record.

Today, that conversation has grown into a movement. With partnerships across dozens of British cities, Crossing Borders stands as a catalyst for cultural memory - working to preserve potential, expand access, and build legacies out of silence.

From oral histories that unlock the stories of elders, to digitised photograph collections that reconnect families with their past - our work delivers careful action and lasting results.

→ Our Story

■ About the Archive

Community-led

Every collection decision is shape by the communities we serve — not imposed upon them.

Rigorously preserved

We apply archival best practices to every photograph, oral history and document.

Openly accessible

This history belongs to everyone. Our archive is free for researchers, educators, and families.

Humanised, never reduced

We resist statistics and categories. Every entry is a person, a family, a life — not a data point.

■ Contribute

Add Your History

→ Our Story

If you have a story, a photograph, an oral history or a family document to contribute, we would be honoured to preserve it alongside the thousands already in our care.

Your contribution is only possible through shared effort and long-term trust. As we continue to grow, your involvement can help extend this reach.