The UK Government has declared an increase in funding for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to support the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 2025.
Holocaust Memorial Day, observed annually on January 27th, serves as a day of reflection, remembrance, and education. The upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025 is expected to be a particularly significant occasion, emphasizing the importance of remembering past atrocities while promoting a future of understanding and unity.
The 2025 commemoration will also mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, serving as a stark reminder that hatred and intolerance have persisted long after the Holocaust.
Faith Minister Lord Khan stated, “We are committed to ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. The 80th anniversary is a time for deep reflection, and to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered by the Nazis.”
The additional funding of £80,000 will enable the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to organize a large-scale event and ensure its broadcast reaches millions, matching the significance of the occasion. This brings the total government support for the Trust to £980,000 for the year.
Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, expressed gratitude for the government’s commitment, stating, “The Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 commemorations will be engaging millions of people across the UK, in local communities, on social and traditional media, and at the UK Ceremony.”
The increased funding will support broader access to the event, allowing people nationwide to participate in commemoration and reflection.
This announcement follows the Prime Minister’s recent speech to the Holocaust Education Trust, where he outlined a “national ambition” to ensure every young person has the opportunity to hear recorded Holocaust survivor testimony. The government has also committed to keeping the Holocaust on the school curriculum, including in state schools not currently required to follow the national curriculum.
