Remembrance Day @ DH

Children from local schools meet with armed forces

To help young people understand the role the British Defence Forces play in protecting British freedom, the Department of Health organised 'Takeover Day'; an opportunity for school students to come to the DH, to express what Remembrance Day means to them, to hear from senior staff at the Ministry of Defence and Department of Health, and to meet soldiers, their families and military health experts.
Time & Talents helped link the DH team leading on this with a local academy in Westminster. The students were encouraged to write up what Remembrance Day means to them either as a poem or a piece of artwork, as part of a competition, with cash prizes and the winning submissions displayed.
During the event - in which a two minute silence was observed, students made short presentations to the attendees, and had the chance to reflect during group discussions in which soldiers, their families and Military Health Experts also participated.
For the students, the experience was 'eye-opening and emotional', and offered the chance to see a different perspective to the armed forces; motivating some students to consider joining the Armed Forces in the future. The event also opened up the opportunity for students to gain internships at the Department of Health, which the students have a shown a great interest in.

Opportunity for DH staff to engage with and reflect upon student perceptions of war and conflict
Building links with local schools
Development of leadership and creativity skills in organising distinctive activity with local schools

An opportunity for students to personally speak with armed forces in a reflective environment; in context recognising the catastrophic nature of war
Development of public presentation skills
Greater awareness of social responsibility for young people

My grandfathers, Bruno and Harry, were both born at the end of the nineteenth century. They both had very different experiences of the first world war... my grandfathers could have killed each other which would have been awful for me."
Excerpt from "What Remembrance Day means to me", presented by one of the school students

Case Study photo

Young students from Westminster participate in Remembrance Day in the DH Atrium

DH Volunteering policies

The Department of Health's commitment to promoting employee volunteering stems from a strategy for sustainable development and sees volunteering as contributing to core skills like leadership, project management, creativity, problem solving and communication. Volunteering also supports the DH's equality and diversity agenda by enabling staff to work directly with disadvantaged groups in the community. Staff can volunteer during paid leave for up to five days a year in health and social care related activities, or one day for other activities.

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