Of over 10,000 Foundation Stones painted for the UK Holocaust Memorial by members of the public to date, 50 stones with accompanying stories have been chosen to feature on the Foundation Stones Map, an immersive online resource that allows people to explore the stones in 3D in locations across the United Kingdom.
The first trail - The British Story - was launched in 2022, with 28 stones featuring stories that relate to the United Kingdom's deep connections with the history of the Holocaust. All 28 stories are narrated by the award-winning actor Juliet Stevenson.
The second trail - Future Free From Hate - includes 22 painted stones that feature stories from genocide survivors and others across the United Kingdom - from County Londonderry to Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club in London - who promise to remember the past and build a future free from hate.
A stone painted by a social worker in London depicts an angel's wing and is dedicated to the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered in the Holocaust. Another, painted by a Cambodian genocide survivor in Oxfordshire, depicts a blue sky with clouds, with each cloud representing a murdered family member.
The Foundation Stones Map is part of the Foundation Stones project, run by community engagement organisation Big Ideas in partnership with the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation. Inspired by the Jewish custom of placing stones on graves and headstones, every stone will become part of the Memorial and is a promise to remember the past and build a future free from hate.
The Future Free From Hate trail is supported by The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family with the Foundation Stones Map made with support from Google.org.
