How was every town and city affected during and after World War 2? - Presentation

The comprehensive educational resource from Focus Education explores the profound and lasting effects World War 2 had on British towns and cities, with a particular focus on Oldham in Lancashire. It provides a framework for understanding the localised impact of the war, encouraging students to investigate their nearest town or city for a more personalised study. The resource details how the war transformed the lives of Oldham's residents, with many men conscripted into the forces and women entering the workforce, often in munitions factories. Using personal reflections sourced from the BBC's WW2 People's War archive, students gain insight into the wartime experiences of a boy and a girl from Oldham, offering contrasting perspectives on the era.

Further expanding the scope of study, the resource prompts students to explore the universal issues of evacuation and rationing that affected the entire nation. It delves into the short and long-term impacts of the war, including the introduction of the Beveridge Report, which laid the groundwork for the UK's welfare state. Students are encouraged to engage in interactive learning through partner work, group discussions, and even creating a newspaper front page titled 'Oldham at War'. They also compare their current diet with wartime rations and reflect on the experiences of evacuees and host families. The Beveridge Report's significance is highlighted, particularly in addressing the 'Five Giants' - poverty, education, housing, unemployment, and healthcare - which were barriers to social progress, with special attention to its implications for towns like Oldham that were among the poorest post-war.