Royal approval for pupils who honoured Holocaust victims

Pupils from Brinsworth Academy in Rotherham gave a performance for the Duchess of Cornwall at The Anne Frank Trust UK’s annual fundraising luncheon.

The students gave a presentation to the duchess, which incorporated readings from Anne Frank’s Diary, read their own statements of hope for the world and they also shared their own stories and experiences of prejudice and discrimination.

The event was held to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and the 75th anniversary of the publication of Anne Frank’s diary.

The Brinsworth students (pictured in grey blazers with the duchess) are part of the charity’s Anne Frank Ambassador programme, who are chosen to help disseminate anti-prejudice message through their communities and online. Its interactive education programmes use the young Dutch diarist’s powerful life story and inspirational diary as its starting point and includes an exhibition of her life and diary combined with workshops, peer education and an ambassador programme.

Following their performance, the students spoke to the duchess and discussed their work with the charity.

The duchess, who lit a candle in memory of victims of the Holocaust, alongside Auschwitz-survivor Eva Schloss, the 92-year-old stepsister of Anne Frank, said: “It was a pleasure to meet a few of the thousands of pupils the trust reaches every year in schools across the country.

“These are young people of Anne Frank’s age who are motivated by her story, and educated by the Trust, to speak out against prejudice of any kind.

“The young people’s understanding of the past, and their commitment to a better future, are tremendously heartening.

“They are a testament to all of you who support the work of this deeply-needed charity.”

As well as the students' performance there was a candle-lighting ceremony in memory of the Holocaust and other genocides, as well as victims of modern day hate crime.

Claire Mellon, equality, community and inclusion lead, at Brinsworth Academy, said: “We are so proud of our young ambassadors for coming along today and performing for add in VVIP and the other guests.

“We have worked with the charity for several years now as our school is keen to take a stand against hate and to promote a sense of inclusion for all, and so we have seen first-hand what a difference they can make.”

This year’s theme to mark Holocaust Memorial Day is “one day”, which reflects the charity’s hopes for a world without prejudice or genocide.