North Tyneside Holocaust Memorial Day event
What is Holocaust Memorial Day?
Holocaust Memorial Day is an international day on 27 January - which marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Holocaust Memorial Day remembers the millions of Jewish men, women and children who were murdered under Nazi persecution and all those that have died in other genocides since then. Holocaust Memorial Day is a day to learn more about the past, empathise more with people today, and work to build a better future.
North Tyneside HMD Working Group
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) is the charity that promotes and supports Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD).
North Tyneside HMD Working Group was formed in September 2000. Historically, they have raised awareness regarding:
- tolerance and understanding
- challenging racism and prejudice
- promoting equality
- remembering the Holocaust and other genocides
The group was established in response to a government request to local authorities that they organise an annual event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day (27th Jan) and encourage continuing remembrance of the Holocaust as well as past and present genocides. NT HMD Working Group is the only LA group to have created a Memorial Garden of Contemplation.
Commemoration in North Tyneside
Each year in North Tyneside we host an HMD Commemoration Event at our Council Chambers and invite a number of schools and dignitaries to come and speak about the Holocaust and subsequent genocides as part of the national Memorial Day. We tend to balance our speakers between members of the Working Group (many of whom are prominent members of the Jewish Community), and their family members who have stories to tell, with occasionally, speakers who have a greater identity on a national perspective. Speakers such as Arek Hirsch, Robert Rinder, Dr Vivien Sieber to name a few.
This year’s event
The event for 2026 will be taking place on Friday January 23rd from 9:45 until 11:30, along with an opportunity to visit our Memorial Garden which was created especially to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.
The theme for this year (2026) is, “Bridging Generations”, and there is a wide range of additional information available on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website
Each year we have around 12 schools participating delivering presentations around the theme, from poetry, research and also personal reflection as many secondary students share experiences of visits that have made to camps such as Auschwitz as part of the Holocaust Education Trust.
Learning about the past for a better future
The week starts with a ceremony which illuminates St Mary’s Lighthouse in a purple light, the colour of the Trust. There is also a display in Quadrant based on the lives of children living under Nazi rule as well as many school-based events. The memorial event concludes local activities but precedes the National memorial day which is always the 27/1 each year.
This year the group have worked with schools in order to raise awareness, especially in the light of recent worldwide events such as the plight of refugees and the spread of religious and ideological intolerances. This has been highlighted by examining the theme of “Bridging Generations.“, and how we can all support those who are the victims of inequality.
We hope that your school can be involved in Holocaust Memorial Day this year.
Ready to find out more?
Please get in touch if your school would like to get involved or find our more about our North Tyneside Holocaust Memorial events.
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