Britain’s hidden Holocaust stories showcased in Parliament

Students from different parts of the country showcased research projects exploring links between their local areas and the Holocaust in Parliament on Tuesday.

The event was hosted by Chipping Barnet MP Dan Tomlinson, the Labour MP elected in July, along with the UK Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and UCL Centre for Holocaust Education.

As part of the project named “My Hometown”, students highlighted the often-hidden history of the Holocaust in areas across the UK and was aimed at strengthening young people’s connectedness and affinity with their hometowns.

Entries showcased at the event were: Oaks Park High School in Ilford’s “Leon Greenman, Ilford and The Holocaust”, Trinity Catholic School in Leamington Spas’ “Bud and Blossom Garden and Commemorative Mosaic” and Nottingham University Samworth Academy ‘s “Our Hometown Journey: The Legacy of Simon Winston”.

The audience, which included Labour MPs Paul Waugh and Matthew Patrick, were particularly moved by Nottingham University Samworth Academy’s deaf students' efforts to create a holocaust-specific lexicon in British Sign Language.

Lord Pickles, the UK’s Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues, told the JC: “This year, the UK holds the Presidency of IHRA. One of the projects I introduced is My Hometown. Pupils from as far away as Norway and Argentina have submitted projects about what happened in their towns during the Holocaust: some received refugees fleeing from the Nazis; some recorded the occupation.

He continued: “Common thought throughout the project was the entries' vivacity and originality. I was very impressed by the high quality of the three projects presented to Parliament on Tuesday. Next week, they will be showcased at an IHRA gathering in London.”

Tomlinson MP told the JC that: “We can never forget where hatred and antisemitism can lead.”

He added that he was: “grateful for the work of the IHRA and UCL Centre for Holocaust Education in keeping the understanding of the Holocaust and its lasting impacts preserved and protected for current and future generations.

The Chipping Barnet MP also thought it was “imperative that young people in the UK and across the world know of the horrors that so many experienced. I’m proud that our government has pledged £2 million to support holocaust education initiatives.”

Ruth-Anne Lenga, associate professor at the UCL Centre For Holocaust Education, and a leading expert on Holocaust education thanked Tomlinson and Pickles “for the opportunity to showcase some of the very best Holocaust education happening in English schools at the Houses of Parliament and in front of such an incredible audience.”