In 2017, Big Ideas Company is being publicly funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to lead two large-scale commemoration programmes about the First World War – The Unremembered and Passchendaele at Home. These engage with community groups of different ages, shapes, sizes and focus across the UK.

 

There are only nine weeks left for community groups to apply for our community funding scheme and access resources for both projects – we recommend applying as soon as possible.

 

The Unremembered

This project commemorates the army of workers supporting the war effort during the First World War. It’s a diverse story, with workers from across the world including China, India, South Africa, Canada and the UK.

Community groups can research local graves and share their stories with the wider community, as well as commemorating the individuals they are researching. This could be on Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday, or through another event or activity within their local community, such as a coffee morning.

Big Ideas Company has created two resource packs (one general and one India-specific) to share, along with archive scripts, a database of over 5,700 Labour Corps graves in the UK, calligraphy worksheets and up to £200 for each community group that wants to get involved.

Funding is only available for community groups in England, however all our resources are free and can be shared across the UK.

Find out more: www.theunremembered.org

Contact the team: theunremembered@bigideascompany.org

You can watch recent Unremembered events with community groups here. 

 

Passchendaele at Home

This nationwide research-and-remember project in the UK invites community groups and schools to discover graves in the UK belonging to servicemen who served in the Battle of Passchendaele but who died of their wounds in the UK.

Community groups can research local graves to discover if they fit the Passchendaele at Home criteria, before uploading their research onto the Lives of the First World War website. They can then share their stories with the wider community, as well as commemorating the individuals they are researching. This could be on Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday, or through another event or activity within their local community, such as a coffee morning.

Big Ideas Company has created free resources to share, including a beautiful illustrated research map, an online research guide and a database with details of over 3,000 potential Passchendaele at Home graves in the UK. Funding is available for community groups in England (again, up to £200 per group).

Find out more: bigideascompany.org/project/passchendaele-at-home

Contact the team: athome@bigideascompany.org

You can watch our Passchendaele at Home launch film here.