Big Ideas have received a National Lottery grant from the Big Lottery Fund to make the project The Unremembered: World War One’s Army of Workers UK-wide. In addition to those from England, groups from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will now be able to join English community groups funded by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to commemorate the Labour Corps from the First World War.
The Unremembered project is a national campaign to remember World War One’s army of workers – the Labour Corps. The Labour Corps cooked, cleaned, carried and cared for the soldiers on the front line and behind the lines. They built roads and railways, carried the wounded and buried the dead. Chinese, Canadian, Kenyan, British, Indian and many more, this is a global story.
As a result of the National Lottery funding, Big Ideas will be inviting groups in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to take part in The Unremembered Wreath Challenge this month.
The Wreaths are being prepared for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which takes place in London this April and offers a unique opportunity to tell this story on the world stage. A selection of the Unremembered wreaths created will be chosen for CHOGM and laid for remembrance in November 2018.
Funding of up to £200 is available to take part in The Unremembered to organise an activity to commemorate the Labour Corps this year.
Groups from across the UK should visit The Unremembered project page for information and apply on the funding page to cover the costs of Unremembered wreath-making.
Contact Big Ideas at theunremembered@big-ideas.org to take part and receive your free copy of the Unremembered World Map.
