A £2 million boost was today given by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust to a First World War remembrance campaign in which faith groups and schools will now be able to host installations of 'There But Not There' silhouettes.
The campaign, led by the former Chief of the General Staff, Lord Dannatt, and supported by the Birdsong author and novelist Sebastian Faulks, has already raised in excess of £1.8 million for armed forces charities and sold over 60,000 10 inch perspex Tommies, replicas of the six-foot versions that have sprung up all over the country.
The funding comes in response to a groundswell of support and demand from grassroots, community led campaign groups and places of worship wanting to host their own installations.
The £2 million fund launched today will be made available in micro grants of up to £500 which are open to any school, community or faith group struggling to take part in the campaign because of financial hardship. Grant applications will be open from June 1 to 30.
The silhouettes have been designed by the conceptual photographer and installation artist Martin Barraud, who first created the perspex men representing the fallen of World War I in Penshurst Church in Kent two years ago.
Launching the campaign from Westminster Abbey today, where four Tommies will be standing watch around the Grave of the Unknown Warrior,Lord Dannatt said: 'Faith groups and places of worship, in particular, have been hugely supportive of our campaign.'
He continued: 'The Rolls of Honour marking the sacrifice made by so many young people during the First World War, pepper the walls of synagogues, temples, churches and gurdwaras all over the country. This fund will enable them and other community groups to take part in this very poignant national commemorative campaign.'
The archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby welcomed the campaign, saying: 'I hope that many churches will want to engage with this... As we commemorate the end of the First World War, it is vital that we remember and this project allows us to do so in a way that will engage with the imagination and be a real exercise in remembrance.'
Examples where projects could be supported include St Margaret's Church in Bodelwyddan in north Wales and Palmers Green Mosque and Alyth Synagogue – both in north London – all of which opened their own installations today.
The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: 'Jew, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, all answered the call of King and country. On the East London Synagogue Roll of Honour, some 680 Jewish names alone, mark those that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
'There But Not There is a wonderful way for everyone to commemorate, educate the next generation and help heal the wounds of those heroes who have served in more recent conflicts.'
Imam Asim Hafiz, Islamic religious advisor to the Ministry of Defencesaid: 'Over 800,000 Muslim men and women volunteered to serve in the British Armed Forces during World War One.
'Britain, more than any other nation in the world, has always been an amalgamation of many different faiths and cultures, and the Armed Forces of 100 years ago was a reflection of this diversity. Members of the Muslim community continue to serve in the British Armed Forces; their service honours the legacy of the brave men and women who served before them.'
For more information relating to There But Not There or to see how you could get involved in holding your own installation, click here.
