A new educational initiative has been set up to help raise awareness of the Holocaust and other atrocities in recent history.

The Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Faith Foundation, which coordinates events in the lead up to Holocaust Memorial Day every year on January 27, is leading the initiative.

The project will share resources with B&NES schools in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day, giving teachers and educational leaders useful information on how the issue can be discussed, whilst observing sensitivities around the topic.

B&NES Faith Foundation’s director, Nathan Hartley, said: “As we approach both the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, the largest Nazi death camp during the Second World War, our team are always looking at ways in which we can educate and share with the public just how horrific the atrocities were.

“Today, there is increasing division in communities across the UK and the world. Now more than ever, we need to stand together and educate children and young people about the events of the Holocaust.

“The initiative also encourages young people to celebrate their differences.

“Various regimes throughout history have deliberately fractured societies by marginalising certain groups. Our new educational project shows how we can learn from the past by encouraging individuals to stand together with their neighbours, and speak out against oppression.”

Schools can receive free educational packs from the B&NES Faith Foundation by emailing [email protected].