Toby Perkins MP visited The National Holocaust Centre and Museum with students from Inkersall Spencer Academy as part of a programme encouraging school children of all ages to view age-appropriate historic artefacts and displays to increase aware ness of the holocaust.
The National Holocaust Centre and Museum is the only dedicated Holocaust museum in the UK. Founder’s James and Stephen Smith and their mother Marina were especially keen for students in school and university to be encouraged to learn about, discuss and reflect on the events of the Holocaust. The two main permanent exhibitions within the museum are ‘The Holocaust’ and ‘The Journey’.
‘The Holocaust’ is an exhibit for visitors aged 14 and above which covers the rise of Nazism, details of Jewish Life from 1933 to 1945 and the events of the Holocaust itself, while ‘The Journey’ contains age-appropriate content for visitors aged 9 and above regarding the life of refugees leading up to, during and after the Holocaust.
Toby joined Inkersall students in the museum’s recently expanded and upgraded ‘The Journey’ Exhibit, an interactive experience following the life of a young German Jewish boy as he is sent to England alone after the ‘Kristallnacht’ pogrom in 1938. After spending time with students in the exhibition and learning about the life of the young refugee, Toby said:
“It is really important that all of us, particularly the younger generation learn about the events leading up to the holocaust and what it means to be a refugee. The National Holocaust Museum’s ‘The Journey’ exhibit is a great example of an immersive experience which educates children in a family friendly way”
The National Holocaust Centre and Museum has around 35,000 visitors per year, and a significant portion of visitors are schoolchildren who visit the museum with their school as part of their educational journey.
“I would like to see more schools dedicate time to educating children on the Holocaust by visiting The National Holocaust Museum. I believe this is an exceptional opportunity for students to develop a deeper understanding and reflect on their knowledge. A visit to this museum encourages empathy and ensures that important discussions regarding the Holocaust continue to take place within education”, Toby added.
