How was every town and city affected during and after the war? - Presentation

The educational resource from Focus Education delves into the profound impact of World War 2 on British towns and cities, with a particular emphasis on Oldham in Lancashire. The unit encourages students to explore the wartime experiences of their nearest town or city, using Oldham as a case study. It suggests examining personal accounts from Oldham residents who lived through the war, giving students a personal perspective on the era. The resource underscores the significant changes in everyday life during the war, such as the conscription of men into the armed forces and women into factory work. The curriculum also explores universal wartime experiences across the UK, including evacuation and rationing, and the broader societal impacts that followed the war's conclusion.

Further lessons in the unit prompt students to investigate the short and long-term effects of World War 2 on the British people. It introduces the Beveridge Report, which laid the groundwork for the UK's welfare state, addressing the "Five Giants": want, ignorance, squalor, idleness, and disease. Rationing is highlighted as a significant post-war challenge, particularly for an import-reliant Britain. The programme also examines the evacuation of children to the countryside, revealing the stark class divisions and health disparities that became apparent. Students are encouraged to compare their own diets to those during the war and to reflect on the experiences of evacuees and host families. The Beveridge Report's recommendations are discussed in detail, explaining how they led to the establishment of the Welfare State and why they were particularly important to towns like Oldham, which was one of the poorest at the time.