Portal to the Past

Family History for Beginners

Cost:        £40 (concession £20). The cost covers the purchase of a voucher for www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk which will be needed in Week 3

Times:    For times of the next available class, please contact us at the address at the bottom of the page

Venue:    Giffnock Heritage Centre, Giffnock Community Library

This 4 week course will introduce the basics to people who are new to family history (an optional drop in surgery will be offered in week 5). Classes are small, usually 3 or 4 people, and you can bring along any information or documents you already have, as there will be time to work on your own family tree.

Course Outline

Week 1    Introduction, getting organised, where to start

Week 2    Basic sources (statutory certificates, old parish registers, census records) and how to use them

Week 3    Introduction to online sources, hands-on session on the Scotlandspeople website (cost of starter voucher included in course cost)

Week 4    Other local sources, searching further afield

Week 5    Optional – a drop in surgery will be offered

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Heritage Services Staff at:

Giffnock Heritage Centre, Giffnock Community Library, Station Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 6JF, 0141 577 3872 and localstudies@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk