To mark the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the Wiener Library in the UK at the start of World War 2, Abstract has published the Library’s newsletter featuring a moving photo archive telling the story of the child survivors of the Holocaust.
In spring 1945, the British government made the decision to allow up to 1,000 orphaned, child camp survivors under the age of 16 to enter the UK under the “Children from the Concentration Camp Scheme”.
In the end only around 850 could be found. Soon after they arrived a number of hostels were opened to care for them. One such place was Weir Courtney in Lingfield Surrey where in December 1945 a small group of children aged four and nine were placed under the care of Alice Goldberger.
Through one of the child survivors the Wiener Library received a set of photographs demonstrating the atmosphere at the house, and the security, education and entertainment they were able to enjoy after their traumas.
The Wiener Library News is published pro-bono by Abstract. As Roger Wilsher, Abstract’s founder and managing director, says: “A good proportion of what we do is given away. In addition we do a number of projects a year for good causes.”
Abstract’s list of charitable clients, include Leukaemia CARE, the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, as well as the Wiener Library. As Roger explains: “The company is enhanced by it. Our beating heart is our cause-related work. “
