STUDENTS, councillors and the community will come together to remember the Holocaust at an event in Dorchester.

The South West Dorset Multi Cultural Network is encouraging people to come along to its ninth Holocaust Memorial Day event at the Corn Exchange from 12.30pm on Friday, January 24.

The event will include artwork and readings from local schools, short talks and music.

The theme for the 2014 Holocaust Memorial Day is Journeys and it will provide an opportunity for people to hear the experiences of those who lived through the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

The event will feature local resident Harry Grenville, pictured, who will be speaking of his experience of coming to Britain as part of the Kindertransport.

Students from Thomas Hardye School will reflect on the genocide in Rwanda as 2014 is the 20th anniversary of this atrocity.

Thomas Hardye School is currently one of only 20 beacon schools in the UK having been chosen this year by the University of London’s Institute of Education (IOE) to develop sensitive and innovative ways to help young people explore the traumatic history of genocide.

Sunninghill School will also be contributing to the event with a reading and bringing art work.

The event will conclude with a lighting of candles and a minute’s silence.

Chair of the South West Dorset Multi Cultural Network Anne Marie Vincent said: “We are looking forward to our local community coming together to remember victims of the Holocaust and those whose lives have been affected by exclusion and hatred in subsequent genocides.”

The event has been supported by the Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, West Dorset District Council and Dorchester Town Council.

Equality and diversity manager for the Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust Dave Corbin said: “The Holocaust Memorial Day event is an excellent and timely reminder of what can happen when good people do nothing.”

The Corn Exchange will open from noon on Friday, January 24 and free refreshments will be available.

The South West Dorset Multicultural Network will be putting on exhibitions about the Holocaust at libraries in Dorchester, Bridport and Weymouth from Monday, January 20 to January 27.