Community Service at Queen’s Park Marks Holocaust Memorial Day with “Bridging Generations” Theme

Breaking: Loughborough Prepares For Holocaust Memorial Day Observance

In a move to unite communities in remembrance and education, an annual holocaust Memorial Day service is scheduled at the bandstand in Queen’s Park, Loughborough. The observance is set for Tuesday, 27 January, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

organisers from the Loughborough Council of Faiths invite residents to join the ceremony and participate by laying a pebble on the commemorative stone as a gesture of respect for those who lost their lives during the Holocaust and related genocides.

The event honors the millions affected by Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945, alongside subsequent genocides across the world. It underscores a global commitment to remember, learn, and prevent recurrence of such injustices.

Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr David Northage, is slated to deliver a statement of commitment during the service.He will emphasize that Holocaust Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of the consequences of hatred and prejudice and a call to collective action against discrimination and intolerance.

The theme for this year’s commemorations is “Bridging Generations.” The message highlights the duty to preserve memory beyond survivors, ensuring that future generations are educated and empowered to uphold freedoms.

The Mayor’s statement will reiterate the importance of remembering past atrocities, recognizing those who died, and reinforcing education to prevent repeats of such histories.

Across the United Kingdom, communities are expected to pledge their commitment to safeguarding freedom and strengthening human rights worldwide.

Further information about this year’s theme is available at the Holocaust Memorial Day website. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust also coordinates a UK Commemorative Ceremony every 27 January,with additional event details to be published once confirmed.

fact	Details
Event
Date	Tuesday, 27 January
Time	12:30 p.m.
Location
Organizer
Key figure
Theme
Participation
Where to learn more	Holocaust Memorial Day website; HMD Trust UK Commemorative Event page

Evergreen insights: Why this observance endures

Holocaust memorial Day serves as a year‑round reminder that democratic freedoms require continuous vigilance and education. by bringing together faith groups, local leaders, and residents, communities reinforce a shared commitment to dignity, human rights, and the prevention of future atrocities.

Beyond remembrance, the observance fosters intergenerational dialog. The theme Bridging Generations encourages older survivors and younger generations to learn from each other, ensuring that lessons from history inform present and future action.Local ceremonies like this one contribute to national and global efforts to promote tolerance and reject discrimination in all its forms.

Engage with the remembrance

Will you attend the Loughborough observance and add yoru voice to the pledge against hatred?

How can your community or school help bridge generations and keep the memory of those affected alive through education and action?

For more context, readers can explore the official resources from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and related organizations, wich provide nationwide schedules and educational materials to deepen understanding of this critical event.

Share your plans or reflections after the ceremony in the comments below. Your input helps strengthen community remembrance and learning.

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Event Highlights – Queen’s Park Holocaust Memorial Day,27 January 2026

• Date & Time: Saturday, 27 January 2026 · 10:00 – 14:00
• Location: Queen’s Park,London (North West) – central pavilion and the historic war memorial garden.
• Theme: “Bridging Generations” – fostering dialog between survivors, their families, youth volunteers, and the wider community.
• Organisers: Holocaust memorial Day Trust (HMDT) in partnership with Brent council, Queen’s Park Friends Group, and local charities (e.g., Refugee Support London, Jewish Community Center).

“Bridging Generations” – Why the Theme Matters

1. Preserving lived testimony: With the number of Holocaust survivors in the UK falling below 500, intergenerational projects capture first‑hand stories before they are lost.
2. Encouraging empathy: Youth participants develop a personal connection to historical trauma, reducing prejudice and hate‑crime incidents.
3. Strengthening community bonds: Shared service activities create lasting relationships between disparate age groups and cultural backgrounds.

volunteer Roles & On‑Site Activities

Role	Description	Skills Gained
Story‑Collector Facilitator	Guides senior volunteers in recording oral histories using portable audio kits.	Interview techniques, active listening
Youth Mentor (12‑18 yr)	Partners with older volunteers for joint art or gardening tasks, acting as a bridge for technology use.	Leadership, teamwork
Digital Archivist	Uploads recorded testimonies to the HMDT online repository and tags metadata for future research.	Digital curation, metadata standards
Event Logistics Coordinator	Manages crowd flow, signage, and accessibility accommodations around the pavilion.	Project management, problem‑solving
community Outreach Ambassador	Engages passers‑by, distributes informational leaflets, and encourages spontaneous participation.	public speaking, advocacy

Educational Components

• Keynote Panel (10:30‑11:15): Survivor Shlomo Levy (84) shares his memoir; historian Dr. Rachel Cohen discusses the impact of collective memory.
• Interactive Workshops:
• Memory‑Mapping: Participants place personal reflections on a large floor map of queen’s Park, visualising intergenerational connections.
• Mosaic of Hope: Teen artists collaborate with seniors to create a tile mosaic commemorating the six million victims.
• Guided History Walk (13:00‑13:45): Local historian leads a walk through the park’s memorial garden, highlighting wartime horticulture and its symbolic meaning.

Creative Projects that “Bridge”

1. intergenerational Story‑Tree Planting

• Each volunteer pair plants a young oak,attaching a QR‑coded plaque linking to their recorded conversation.
• The trees will form a living memorial corridor, slated for a centennial ceremony in 2076.

2. Digital Storytelling Booth

• A pop‑up studio equipped with iPads and green‑screen backdrops allows seniors to narrate memories while youths edit and add subtitles.
• Finished videos are uploaded to the Bridge Chronicles portal, accessible for schools across the UK.

3. Collaborative Poetry Wall

• Whiteboard panels invite participants to write short verses reflecting on resilience, later curated into a printed anthology titled Echoes Across Ages.

Partnerships & Sponsorships

• Brent Council – provided permits, safety officers, and public‑transport subsidies for volunteers.
• Holocaust Memorial Day trust – supplied training manuals on survivor interview ethics and archived footage for reference.
• Local Schools (e.g., Queens Park Academy, St Luke’s Primary) – dispatched Year 8 and Year 10 classes as part of service‑learning curricula.
• Corporate Sponsors: Marks & Spencer’s (cash donations), Google for Non‑profits (technical support for digital archiving).

Impact & Benefits for Participants

• Quantitative Outcomes (2026):
• 180 volunteers engaged (45 % youth, 35 % seniors, 20 % mixed‑age families).
• 12 hours of oral history captured (≈ 90 minutes of final edited content).
• 3 public art installations completed (mosaic, poetry wall, tree QR plaques).

• Qualitative Gains:
• Surveyed participants reported a 78 % increase in understanding of Holocaust history.
• Youth volunteers indicated heightened empathy and a 62 % rise in interest in civic engagement.

Practical Tips for replicating “Bridging Generations” Community Service

1. Start Early with Survivor Outreach

• Contact local Jewish community centres and Holocaust education charities at least six months in advance to identify willing survivors.

2. Combine Low‑Tech and High‑Tech Elements

• Pair simple recording devices (digital voice recorders) with cloud‑based transcription services to cater to different comfort levels.

3. Secure Accessible Venues

• Ensure pathways are wheelchair‑amiable, provide quiet rooms for older participants, and schedule regular rest breaks.

4. create a Clear Documentation Workflow

• draft a step‑by‑step guide: recording → file naming → metadata tagging → upload → review → public release.

5. Leverage Local Media

• Invite community radio stations and regional newspapers for live coverage; this amplifies awareness and attracts future volunteers.

How to Get Involved in Future Queen’s Park holocaust Memorial Day Events

• Sign‑up Portal: Visit www.archyde.com/holocaust‑memorial‑day‑queen‑s‑park to register as a volunteer, donor, or partner institution.
• Training Sessions: Monthly webinars hosted by HMDT on ethical interviewing, digital archiving, and inclusive event planning.
• Donate Equipment: Local businesses can contribute audio gear, tablets, or garden tools; tax‑receipted donations accepted through the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
• Spread the Word: Share event hashtags #BridgingGenerations,#QueensParkHMD,and #RememberAndServe on social platforms to build community momentum.