By KLTV Newsdesk – 

Groundbreaking initiative makes Holocaust learning accessible to all students from Year 5 upwards

Schools and colleges across the UK will soon be able to access Holocaust education free of charge, thanks to a new initiative launched by Holocaust Centre North.

From September 2026, the Centre’s acclaimed learning programme will be available at no cost to all students in Year 5 and above, making Holocaust Centre North the only Holocaust education centre in the UK to offer its educational programme completely free.

Based at the University of Huddersfield, Holocaust Centre North is a unique exhibition and learning centre dedicated to Holocaust education in the North of England.

Its established learning programme helps students deepen their understanding of the causes, consequences, legacies and atrocities of the Holocaust while encouraging critical thinking and challenging misconceptions.

Through access to the Centre’s extensive collections and archive materials, donated by the families of Holocaust survivors across the North of England, students learn about the Holocaust through the personal experiences of survivors and refugees who rebuilt their lives in northern communities.

Funding support opens doors for more schools

The free education offer for the 2026/27 academic year has been made possible through support from the Association of Jewish Refugees and the generosity of individual donors.

In addition, the University of Huddersfield is continuing to support schools through its Travel Subsidy Scheme, helping to reduce the cost of coach travel for visiting groups.

A proud moment for Holocaust education

Hannah Randall, Head of Learning at Holocaust Centre North, welcomed the announcement.

“This is the first time we have been able to make our learning programme fully accessible to all schools and colleges, which means that more students will be able to engage with our unique and proven learning programme.

“As the Head of Learning at Holocaust Centre North this is a proud moment for me and the Centre, as we know the power that good Holocaust education can have to challenge stereotypes and build students’ sense of citizenship in their communities.

“By embedding Holocaust education within the local community of the North of England, we can help students create meaningful connections to local history whilst challenging all forms of prejudice and discrimination.”

Teachers and students praise the experience

Schools that have previously visited the Centre have spoken positively about the impact of the programme on both pupils and staff.

“The quality of what is on offer here is excellent – the exhibitions space is very engaging and the discussion of roles and responsibilities has real modern relevance.” – Year 12 teacher

“This was an invaluable visit for the children – thank you. We are passionate about our children being tolerant human beings and this visit has been so influential.” – Year 6 teacher

“I found this exhibition very informative as it gave a lot of room for different stories and backgrounds. They also encouraged everyone to discuss and challenge different opinions.” – Year 8 student

Preserving stories of survival and resilience

Holocaust Centre North traces its origins to the Holocaust Survivors’ Friendship Association, which was established to provide support and friendship for Holocaust survivors.

Over time, the organisation expanded its mission to share survivors’ lived experiences through remembrance and education, helping to build a more understanding and inclusive society.

Today, the Centre cares for a significant collection of personal objects, documents and historical materials donated by survivor families.

These archives preserve powerful stories of courage, resilience and rebuilding lives after unimaginable loss, while ensuring future generations can continue to learn from them.

Find out more

Schools and colleges interested in booking a free educational visit from September 2026 can contact the Holocaust Centre North Learning Team at hcn@hud.ac.uk for further information.