Deaf students from NUSA, alongside their teacher, researched local Holocaust survivors central to Nottingham, and discovered the intriguing story of Simon Winston. Having spoken to key partners at the National Holocaust Centre, students arranged for an interview to take place with Simon at the centre.

The experience of meeting a survivor and having the opportunity to present the interview in sign language was a highly rewarding and all too rare learning opportunity for Deaf students. The experience was further consolidated by the study of key images and artefacts relating to Simon’s story.

Using the British Sign Language lexicons they created, the students were able to film their interview with Simon with signed interpreters in the garden. They then created a unique video celebrating Simon’s legacy and raising awareness of the Deaf community and the power and beauty of sign language in telling stories such as his.

The project inspired a school visit by Simon Winston where he shared his Holocaust testimony with 850 students. The project will also be presented at the Academy Trust Awards Night in November, and this unique video interview will be promoted on the school’s social media to help educate the wider community of Simon’s journey.