Big Ideas has been awarded funding from the Nuclear Test Veteran Community Fund by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. The new project, Remember Together: Nuclear Test Veterans will use intergenerational storytelling to bring the experiences of Nuclear Test Veterans to young people in schools across the UK.
The programme will share the stories of Nuclear Test Veterans and celebrate their service as part of British history. Supporting resources and lesson plans will accompany four short films produced with young people who will interview Nuclear Test Veterans about their experiences.
John Folkes, a British Nuclear Test Veteran who has already been interviewed by young people from St John’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Gravesend, talked about the importance of intergenerational work:
I find the whole project so rewarding, that the generations are being brought together. It makes a continuity with history. I am so pleased to think my story is being passed down.
John goes on to explain why he thinks young people need to learn about this period of British history:
They’re entering into a world where they should know what went before them. Let them learn from history. They can take on board what’s happened before.
Inspired by the films, secondary school children will be invited to a digital school events day where they will discover these stories and creatively respond to them alongside their peers across the UK on 3rd October 2023. Throughout October and November community groups across the nation will be invited to come together to remember the service of Nuclear Test Veterans.
Schools can register for these free events here on the Big Ideas website. Community groups should email RememberTogether@big-ideas.org to register their interest.
Big Ideas would like to acknowledge the support and guidance from Alan Owen, founder of LABRATS, and of course to the veterans for their generosity and willingness to share their stories with young people. Big Ideas hopes to attend the LABRATS September reunion in Weston-super-Mare to show the films.