The National Holocaust Centre & Museum was the brainchild of Stephen and James Smith along with their mother Marina who in 1991 visited Yad Vashem - Israel’s national Holocaust museum. This conscientious, thoughtful and considered Christian family were stunned and challenged by the information gathered during their journey. James and Stephen believed that their education about the Holocaust at school and university had been lacking, as they had never had the opportunity to consider what the Holocaust might mean for them as individuals. The trip in 1991 changed the lives of the family as they came back to the UK and knew that the Holocaust had to be taught, discussed and understood by all. They were especially keen to see this done correctly for students learning about the Holocaust at school.

After many years of dedicated fund raising and incredibly hard work, affectionately known as Beth Shalom (the House of Peace) - the National Holocaust Centre & Museum was born. What once was the Smith family home is now the only national museum in the UK dedicated to teaching and learning the lessons from the Holocaust. From humble backgrounds, this inspirational place holds two permanent exhibitions, a memorial and reflective space, education and teaching space, beautiful landscaped memorial gardens and viewing galleries to learn about the Holocaust. We are also very proud to host The Journey, the only museum exhibition dedicated to teaching younger children about the Holocaust.

Three decades on, the world is a different place. We have the internet, social media and a changing world order. And, far fewer living survivors of the Holocaust. It is a potent and in many ways toxic brew.

As such, we communicate the memory of the Holocaust for a thoroughly contemporary purpose: to grow a community of 'critical thinkers' right across society, able to question the misinformation, stereotypes and conspiracy theories which are driving today's racist hate. 

We believe critical thinking, based on hard evidence about the Holocaust and the 2,000 year continuum of anti-Jewish ‘othering’ at its root, and which persists today, is a transferrable citizenship skill. We believe it can and should be used to deconstruct all types of misinformation-based racism. This includes the use of Holocaust distortion by individual, organisational and State actors. Its spread is global, at internet speed and algorithmic.

We need bold, creative solutions to create a counter culture, making the warnings of the Holocaust resonate to generations born long after it. 

In addition to our family of Holocaust survivors we must also mention our family of supporters. The special relationship with the Pears family through Sir Trevor Pears CMG and the Pears Foundation, has played a particularly central role for many years. So much so that The Smith brothers refer to Sir Trevor as 'The Third Brother". The Foundation continues to be a lead supporter, providing substantial time and input from its professional team as well as core support. 

Watch 'The Story of Beth Shalom' - a 'golden oldie' from our archives:

Our sister charity: The Aegis Trust

In July 2000, in response to the genocide of 1 million Tutsis in Rwanda, of Bosnians and of Darfuris in Sudan, the Smith brothers Smith established the Aegis Trust. Aegis runs the Kigali Memorial Centre in Rwanda, pioneering peace education programmes across Africa and coordinates the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Genocide Prevention in Westminster. 

The Kigali Memorial Centre opened on 7th April 2004, the tenth anniversary of the start of the genocide against the Tutsis. It is modelled on the National Holocaust Centre and Museum. Visitors include a steady stream of international figures, among them successive US Presidents, film stars and King Charles III.

For further information about Aegis, click here.