PEC Chats: What our Public Engagement Coordinators are looking forward to in 2025

2025 will be another busy year for the Commonwealth War Graves Public Engagement Team. Here, we chat with some of our Public Engagement Coordinators about the year ahead.

Commonwealth War Graves Public Engagement Coordinators

Our Public Engagement Coordinators (PECs) work with schools, universities, and organisations large and small across the UK. Their job is to inform the public about the work of Commonwealth War Graves, as well as the stories of the 1.7 million men and women in our care.

We’ve spoken to some of our amazing PECs to see what they have planned for the coming year, including exciting projects, developments, and more. Over to the PECs!

Sarah Nathaniel, Public Engagement Coordinator (South East)

Image: Sarah filming in a Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery

2025 is already shaping up to be a busy year in the South East! 

This year I'll be piloting a student volunteering opportunity with the University of Kent. This has run successfully in other areas of the UK and I'm hoping to replicate that success with the students working towards researching and producing a new tour for the autumn of Canterbury Cemetery and the casualties we commemorate there. 

These programmes offer students the chance to develop a range of skills like public speaking, research, marketing and publicity of events using social media and give them a chance to see what the work of the Commonwealth War Graves is all about.

One of the other projects I'm most excited about is running as part of a wider initiative in Worthing. The 50 Things Project aims to give local disadvantaged children the opportunity to have experiences and be involved in projects they may miss out on otherwise. 

As part of this initiative, I'm running a local history project with six schools in Worthing to help them research the Second World War casualties from the area ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day in May. 

The children will explore the stories of those who gave their lives from their hometown and produce information about them to be shared. This research will be displayed in a prominent central Worthing location for the people of the town to see in time for VE Day commemorations. Young people are always fascinated by the stories around them and I'm really looking forward to seeing what they discover.

The final exciting collaboration that is continuing to develop this year is with Camilla Baker, the grand daughter of Sir Herbert Baker, one of the Commission's principal architects. We are exploring ideas as to how to promote his work and legacy - watch this space!

Sarah Moody, Public Engagement Coordinator (West Central)

On March 15th, I will be at the Midlands Family History Show at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

I shall be doing this jointly with PEC for Wales, Amy Kitcher and one of our local volunteers Chris Burrows. 

This is the second year we will be attending following a very successful and busy event last year. 

It is an ideal opportunity to engage with genealogists who regularly use our website as well as newcomers and to encourage people to upload their stories to For Evermore.

Sehar Sardar, Public Engagement Coordinator Scotland (South and West)

This year is already unfolding as a dynamic year in the South and West Scotland, with plenty of exciting opportunities ahead!

One of the projects I’m particularly excited about is the expansion of the student internship programme, which began as a pilot with the University of Glasgow in 2021. This year, I’m thrilled to announce that we’re also collaborating with the University of Strathclyde, broadening the opportunity for more students to get involved. 

These internships offer students invaluable experience in areas like research, event planning, and public engagement, while deepening their understanding of the important work the Commonwealth War Graves Commission does. I look forward to seeing the next generation of professionals gaining new skills and insights as they contribute to the preservation of our shared history.

Image: Serhar, far left, meeting in 2024 with Scottish veterans and members of the Glasgow Warriors rugby team

Another key focus for me this year will be strengthening our outreach efforts, especially with private schools. To kick this off, I’ll be speaking at the Scotland and Northern England School Archivists Group in March. 

It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with educators and archivists, exploring how we can work together to bring the stories of the fallen to a new generation of students. I’m excited to engage with schools across the region and develop partnerships that will help raise awareness and foster a greater appreciation for our shared heritage.

Additionally, I’m particularly looking forward to is the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Glasgow Western Necropolis. After a successful event last year, which saw 16 wreath layers and around 50 members of the public in attendance, I’m hoping to make this years’ service even bigger and more impactful.

The ANZAC Day service is an important occasion for our local community, and I’m looking forward to welcoming more attendees to pay their respects to those who served and gave their lives.

There’s a lot to look forward to in 2025, and I can’t wait to get started on these exciting initiatives and continue to build on the work that’s been done over the last few years. Stay tuned for more updates!

How can you support Commonwealth War Graves Public Engagement Coordinators?

The best way to support our Public Engagement Coordinators is to become a CWGF Member.

For just £3 a month, not only do you get to support our volunteering, education, and outreach projects, but CWGF Members also enjoy:

• Access to CWGF Chats: a series of special online talks about the work of the Commission, as told by CWGC staff, as well as specialist subjects from renowned historians.
• Priority access to our brilliant events
• A regular newsletter keeping you up to date with all the latest CWGF news
• A yearly impact report detailing our projects so you can really measure the effects your donations and support have on our work
• Your subscription to the Foundation Chronicle: our magazine detailing events, more Foundation insights, and interesting snippets of World War history
• A free CWGF calendar

Become a Member today and help us keep the memories of the Commonwealth’s war dead alive for ever.

Don’t want to become a Member? Making a one-off donation is quick and easy. All of your donations go towards supporting CWGF projects. Please consider supporting us today.