Cumbria County Council has agreed to provide a Holocaust education project with a long lease to a library building in memory of the Windermere Children.

The Lake District Paradise Project aims to create a learning centre which will tell the story of the 300 child survivors of the Nazi genocide who were brought to the Lake District to recuperate after the Second World War.

The county council agreed to provide a long lease on Ellerthwaite House, the Windermere library building, to the project.

Under the terms of the lease, the library building will house the LDPP’s museum and exhibition centre alongside the council-run library service.

‘I’m delighted Cabinet has approved a long-term lease for Windermere library building,’ said Cllr Deborah Earl, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for community services.

‘The Lake District Paradise Project has some fantastic plans to create a world class museum and visitor attraction in Windermere.

‘At the same time we can secure the future of an important library building in the heart of the community, which can act as a catalyst to draw in external national funding.

‘It’s a real win-win for the area and I’m really looking forward to seeing this exciting project come to fruition.’

Trevor Avery, director of LDPP, commented: ‘The timing of this is perfect as it comes just as we’re about to enter 2020, the 75th anniversary of when the child survivors arrived in the Lake District from the camps, and also the victory of the world’s democracies over a horrendous tyranny.

‘There can be no better way to celebrate the children’s survival than to commemorate it through a hugely important library and education initiative.’