Touring Exhibition
An innovative touring exhibition commemorated the Second World War in the sixtieth anniversary year, exploring the lasting impact of this conflict on people and places across the UK. The exhibition visited 70 venues throughout the country between February 2005 and February 2006, ranging from shopping centres to museums, and military barracks to libraries. Offering a range of learning activities to inspire everyone, from children to veterans, to find out more, the exhibition attracted over 2 million visitors. Visit our Online Exhibition section to explore this exhibition and for more information.
Teaching Resources
A wide range of teaching resources focussing on the impact of the Second World War have been created and made available through the TPYF website. Ready-made lesson plans and historical enquiries support teaching within the classroom, while learning outside the classroom is supported through practical guidance on planning trips and sample itineraries. Visit our Learning Centre for more information.
Commemorative Visits Programme
The Commemorative Visits Programme was organised and led by the Imperial War Museum, providing hundreds of young people with learning experiences through overseas visits they will never forget. Visiting a huge range of destinations related to the Second World War, from Normandy to New Zealand, and Germany to Japan, the scheme provided an opportunity for young people to explore the impact of this conflict on people and places around the world. Visit our School Trips and Projects section to find out more information.
Partnerships Scheme
Young people, schools and veterans were provided with a unique opportunity to work together to explore issues such as remembrance, conflict, reconciliation and commemoration through our UK-wide Partnerships Scheme. Participants were able to record, present and preserve personal testimonies of the Second World War for future generations, and learn together about the impact of this conflict. Visit our Learning with Veterans section to find out more about intergenerational learning in the classroom.
Funding for UK Education Authorities
As part of the broader funding allocation for Their Past Your Future, the Big Lottery Fund provided UK education authorities with £1.75 million of funding for schools and young people to participate in commemorating the end of the Second World War. This was achieved through a range of educational activities, including overseas visits, commemorative events, recording veteran testimony, and working with Second World War objects and archives. Visit our Funding for UK Education Authorities section to find out more.
Digitisation Programme
Public access to the Imperial War Museum collections was increased significantly through the funding of a new programme of digitisation at the museum. The main focus of the TPYF digitisation programme was material related to the Second World War and post-war reconstruction, with over 70,000 items digitised, including photographs, pictures of objects, sound recordings, documents, works of art and posters. Visit our Digitisation Programme section to find out more.
Evaluation
The evaluation project has aimed to measure the impact on individuals of participation in one or more of the programmes and activities within Their Past Your Future, and the wider Veterans Reunited programme. The evaluation based its approach on the Inspiring Learning For All framework, to find evidence of learning for young people, veterans and older people about the Second World War, and intergenerational learning between veterans and young people. Visit our Evaluation section to read the evaluation report in full, and to find out more through practical case studies.
