A DIGITAL tribute to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory In Europe Day (VE Day) - which is led by students at Barnsley College - has been launched this week.
#VEHAPPY is an online arts project which celebrates the anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe, and has been developed using software from the college’s Creative and Digital Industries Department.
David Akeroyd, principal and chief executive of Barnsley College, said: “This is a great celebration to enable the whole country to come together to celebrate the anniversary of victory in Europe.
“This helps our students have a great opportunity to practice real-life digital skills but even more importantly, it allows our students to engage in the social and cultural capital acquisition of understanding how our veterans have helped to shape what the country is today.”
The project invites participants to upload a ‘V for Victory selfie’ at ve80.com/vehappy, which will become a pixel in a living digital mosaic of Winston Churchill addressing crowds on VE Day 1945.
The college has worked on the project in collaboration with VE Day 80 pageant master Bruno Peek, who has previously worked on the 50th and 70th anniversary celebrations of VE Day.
Other celebrations at the college include a mini street party on May 8, the official date of VE Day celebrations, and a VE 80 commemorative garden.
A group of 28 students at the college are also capturing the essence of VE Day by using social media content, interviews with local people, and by launching VE Day Radio, which will offer music, stories and historical insights.
Alex Heron, one of the students involved, said: “Collaborating with the organisers has helped me learn far more about VE Day.
“It’s a big part of history and important to celebrate the accomplishments, but it’s also a big point to make sure a war of that scale never happens again.”
The #VEHAPPY campaign will also take to the road via the donation of a VE 80 truck by Thomas Hardie Commercials.
The truck, which is wrapped in a VE Day 80 tribute design, has been donated to Veterans Into Logistics, who help veterans gain HGV licences and jobs after leaving the armed forces.
Darren Wright, founder of Veterans Into Logistics, started the company after having struggled himself with the pressures of leaving the military.
He said: “Employment and giving someone a new career can change and save lives.
“I’m honoured to be here at Barnsley College to promote VE Day 80, it just shows how important our mission is to support armed forces communities.”
