World War One conference for young learners
We want to bridge that generation gap, and get people remembering and reflecting in this special year.”
More than 100 young people from schools across North Staffordshire will attend an event at Keele University next week, to mark the centenary of the beginning of the First Wold War.
The event, which is being held on Wednesday 12th February, will be attended by Year 8 and 9 pupils from local schools as part of the University’s outreach programme.
Andy Robertshaw, of Channel 4’s Time Team fame, will be delivering talks at the event. These will be complemented by workshops from academics at Keele.
The sessions will include a local flavour, looking at food on the home front in Stoke-on-Trent and the role of the Staffordshire miners on the front line.
The day will conclude with hands-on activities, including the handling of decommissioned weaponry, sweetheart badges and postcards from the front.
Event organiser, Ant Sutcliffe, from Keele’s Outreach team said: “We believe that it is essential to not only build relationships with our local schools and community, but through events such as the World War One Day, to remember the people of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire who were sent to the front, or struggled at home, whilst inspiring our young people through education.”
He added: “We are also asking the young people to go away from the day and speak to their grandparents, neighbours, great uncles and so on, and to send us any stories that they collate. We want to bridge that generation gap, and get people remembering and reflecting in this special year.”
The event is one of a number of activities taking place at the University to commemorate World War One over the coming year.
For more information please contact the Recruitment, Outreach and Access team on outreach@keele.ac.uk or visit www.keele.ac.uk/outreach