26/11/03 - £1,000 for Holocaust Commemmoration Event

Today, Cumbria County Council’s South Lakeland Local Committee gave a grant of £1,000 to support the `Holocaust Survivors in Cumbria’ project.  This is an educational and development project    for young people, encouraging anti racism and tolerance.  The grant from the local committee will help to fund local events in the Windermere area.

 County Councillor Ian Stewart, Chair of South Lakeland Local Committee says,

“I am delighted to support such a commendable project.  The project began with a Unison organised trip to Poland for young people to meet Holocaust survivors.  The trip was a learning and development opportunity encouraging young people to be positive advocates of anti racism and tolerance.  The Polish guide on the trip was one of a number of child survivors of Auschwitz and Birkennau who were brought to Cumbria in August 1945.  The child survivors were housed at the former aircraft factory at White Cross Bay, Windermere and local social workers played an integral part in caring for the children and helping them deal with their traumatic and harrowing experiences.  Not only is this important to the local history of South Lakeland but it is vital that young people learn to respect other cultures and people.  

Cumbria County Council is currently working to develop a Comprehensive Equality Policy.  The policy aims to eliminate racial discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and encourage good community relations.  It aims to mainstream equalities in all its business and to improve the quality of life for Cumbria's communities"

As part of the `Holocaust Survivors in Cumbria’ project and building on the visit to Poland, Unison is organising local events in the Windermere area.  Events include a plaque laying ceremony, attendance at a local school and a reception for child survivors of the Holocaust to meet with local people and organisations.  For more information about the events, contact Mark Clifford, UNISON on (01228) 815679.