Emma King Consultancy

Holocaust training pilot

For the past six months I've been working with the Leeds-based Holocaust Survivors' Friendship Association as their freelance Training & Research manager. My main role is to develop a two-day training course for a group of volunteers who will be working with the Association to take Holocaust survivors' personal stories out into schools and community organisations. This is an important project for the Association: as survivors become fewer in number, it is vital that their stories are not forgotten. The training programme is part of the survivors' legacy for the future. 

24 people attended the first training day at Weetwood Hall on 20 May. The first day covered the historical background to the Holocaust, including the history of anti-Semitism and pre-war Jewish life in Europe, as well as a chance to hear first hand from survivors about their experiences of living in Nazi Germany and of either fleeing to the UK or being transported to slave labour and concentration camps. The second day will take place on Sunday 10 June and will cover the aftermath of the Holocaust, the survivors' message for the future and the skills volunteers will need to communicate survivors' stories to students and community groups.

It is a tall order to fit so much content into two days. The two days of training will be supplemented by a training pack (which I'm currently writing), a detailed reading list and a programme of shadowing visits where volunteers will accompany survivors on public speaking engagements. We have a lot of work to do to develop presentation materials for new volunteers and ensure they feel confident and supported in their role as speakers and ambassadors for the Association.  After Sunday's training we will assess and revise the programme and will be delivering it again later in the year to a new cohort of volunteers.

If you're interested in volunteering for the HSFA, please contact Lesley on enquiries@holocaustlearning.org