Arboretum makes inclusivity pledges

The National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire, is making a series of ambitious pledges on inclusion and accessibility, re-enforcing its commitment to being an open and inclusive environment, freely open to all.

This commitment is echoed in the design principles of the newly installed Memorial Woodland, in memory of those who have lost their life as a result of the pandemic.

Centred on inclusivity and accessibility, the principles will ensure the creation of a year-round space where people from all backgrounds can gather to reflect, remember and forge new memories.

In addition to a grove of trees representing the diversity of religion across the Commonwealth, members of the public will have the opportunity to influence aspects of the design, and an ongoing community engagement plan will ensure it remains a representative and relevant space for future generations.

“Remembrance is a universal concept that spans cultures and communities and has been an important human need for millennia, ” said Philippa Rawlinson, managing director.

“The Arboretum provides a reflective space for people from all walks of life to celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost and we are working to remove any remaining barrier that might prevent people from learning about the incredible stories of service and sacrifice behind our almost 400 memorials.

"As the nation 's year-round centre of Remembrance, we are continually developing new routes for people to engage with this important human need, respecting that everyone remembers differently. ”

Among the almost 400 memorials at the Arboretum are tributes to Sikh soldiers who served during the First World War, members of the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women, and those who work in the Royal Army Chaplains Department.

In recent years there have been many expressions of interest from many diverse groups and communities interested in sponsoring a memorial at the site, including people wishing to recognise the contribution of Armed Forces personnel from the Caribbean and those of Muslim faith.

At the heart of the 150-acre site, more than 16,000 names are engraved on the Armed Forces Memorial.

Grouped by service and ordered by year, each name is recorded without rank or other defining characteristic.

No sacrifice is marked as being greater than another and those who lost their lives together are remembered together.

A new advisory group and Inclusion Champion will ensure that all aspects of the Arboretum 's work are as inclusive and relevant to all, including those who are Black, from minority ethnic groups or identify as LGBT+.

The new inclusion and accessibility pledges are an integral part of the National Memorial Arboretum 's ambitious vision for modern Remembrance, launched to coincide with the 20th anniversary since the Arboretum opened to the public.

They also commit the site to improve access for people from lower socio-economic groups by avoiding financial barriers to participation and ensuring those living with a disability, learning difficulty or mental health condition can easily navigate the site and interpretation materials.

Pictured: On Remembrance Sunday in 2020, Major Naveed Muhammad lays a wreath on behalf of the Armed Forces on the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum