A PARTY of Redditch councillors and students took a trip to a memorial centre as part of a council remembrance initiative.

The Holocaust Memorial Group visited the Beth Shalom Holocaust Centre, near Newark to promote remembrance of the Holocaust during the Second World War and more recent genocide events such as Srebrenica, Rwanda and Darfur.

The committee, which organises a commemoration event each January, invited local students along on the trip in a bid to keep the work of the group going.

During the visit, the group joined people of all ages from across the country to hear from holocaust survivors and to visit the memorial gardens and exhibitions.

Committee chairman, Councillor Jinny Pearce, said: “The systematic, inhuman, purging of minority groups is intolerable, and individuals need to make their own decision to stand up against all kinds of bullying and hatred and ensure that no such action is taken in our name.

“The centre is a peaceful place but, of necessity, shows graphically how man's behaviour can so easily degenerate into the most appalling cruelty.

“There were many schoolchildren in attendance and I really hope that they will take hold of this message.”

The group visited the day after Liza Minelli visited the centre to sing at a fundraising event there.

Chloe Bates, vice-chair of Redditch Student Council, said: "We need to spread the word about this place and get more people to visit - and ensure nothing of the sort is ever allowed to happen again." Cllr Bill Hartnett said: “The Centre exceeded all our expectations - there wasn't nearly enough time to see it all in a single day.

“The most important thing is we have sparked an interest in our younger residents who we hope will carry on the work of the committee.”

To get involved with the holocaust committee, e-mail steve.skinner@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk.