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A community history group says it has no choice but to close its doors after failing to secure future funding.

But volunteers from Butetown History and Arts Centre want to preserve the archive they have built up for generations to come.

The group was established in 1988 and located at the heart of old Cardiff Docklands.

The idea was to create a place where communities could share stories, activities and their experiences with other members of the city.

Over its life, the group have put on activities, exhibitions and talks, but now funding for their projects has dried up.

The scheme has relied on project-based funding and when no further revenue could be raised at the start of this latest financial year, the committee had to make the tough decision.

Mari Lowe, a volunteer and board member, said that the tough decision was taken at a recent board meeting.

“Sadly, we have decided that the group in its current form will have to close its doors to the public, but we are focused on saving the archives,” she said.

The search has now begun for a venue suitable for storing it.

“There are several things we’re looking for including a rent free space that we can put the archives into. It needs storage space but also an area where we can continue to work on them.”

The archive contains items including recordings from people who were residents in Tiger Bay at the start of the 20th century.

They were made from the 1980s onwards and include memories which go right back to the beginning of the 20th century – the heyday of the docks.

Those files need digitising.

To find out more contact www.facebook.com/BhacCardiff .