Education resources for Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
Friday 8th May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (commonly known as VE Day). This year, the Government has moved the May bank holiday to VE Day to allow the nation to remember the sacrifice so many made in the fight against fascism.
Given the restrictions due to COVID-19, plans to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe have been changed and lots of community activities now cancelled.
However, there are still lots of ways that people can get involved and show their support in marking the day on social media and also at home.
In the run up to VE Day:
- The full toolkit is available here: Get involved in marking #VEDay75. This link contains online resources including tips for hosting a tea party at home, colouring, bunting and creative challenges for children.
- Historian and presenter Dan Snow's creative challenge for school-aged children: video on social media and challenge on the website. There will also be a week of history lessons on Dan's History Hit YouTube channel in the week running up to 8 May.
- Share your stories: people can share their family's connection to WW2 by posting photos and stories on social media using #VEDay75.
- A - Z graphics: shared on Instagram (@dcmsgovuk) with information about VE Day and the end of the Second World War.
- Veteran videos and stories - check out the first video featuring Mervyn. @DCMS on Twitter will be featuring these over the next few weeks.
On VE Day:
@DCMS on Twitter will be posting a hero video featuring people thanking those who contributed to the war effort at home, including teachers, farmers, engineers etc. Please look out for this and share on the day.
For more ideas of ways to get involved and more educational resources please visit www.ve-vjday75.gov.uk/get-involved/
Keeping residents and communities safe in Warwickshire
Residents in Warwickshire can access a whole raft of information and advice online to help keep themselves and others in their community safe by visiting the Safe in Warwickshire website.
The website was set up by the multi-agency Safer Warwickshire Partnership Board and aims to provide easily accessible information to help reduce crime and disorder and promote safety in Warwickshire.
Within the site, which is updated daily, there are links to Cyber Crime, Prevent, Exploitation, Hate Crime, Domestic Violence, Crime Prevention, Trading Standards updates and a whole host of other useful links to Community Safety matters.
A regular e-newsletter is also sent out to keep people updated on the latest information and anyone who would like to receive this can sign up here.
The information would be helpful to students, parents and carers and staff in your school so we would encourage you to share the link to the website through your newsletters and website.
Visit the Safe in Warwickshire website
New wellness support for Warwickshire County Council foster carers
All Warwickshire County Council foster carers can now receive Workplace Wellness support, receiving advice and guidance on a range of topics.
We recognise the invaluable service provided by foster carers across the county and want to ensure they are supported and have access to services that help improve and maintain their mental health and wellbeing.
WCC foster carers receive ongoing training and support as part of their role and this has been enhanced with the introduction of the Workplace Wellness programme to help people manage all of life’s events and challenges, whether relationship, financial, health and wellbeing or career related.
The programme is in addition to the existing support provided by the Warwickshire Foster Carer Association (WFCA) which offers a range of services for WCC foster carers, children who foster and those in care through peer to peer support at coffee mornings to children and family events as well as advice and guidance to potential foster carers as and when required.
Anyone interested in fostering can call for a chat on 0800 408 1556 or visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fostering
The Workplace Wellness support is provided through the Employee Assistance Programme and provides information, advice and guidance 24 hours a day to WCC employees and WCC approved foster carers.