Two students from Arsenal Football Club studying at City of Westminster College have shared their experience of visiting Auschwitz as the country gathered to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27.
Lillybelle Welch (left) and Jennika Kelly (right), funded on the L3 Arsenal Sports Coaching programme at United Colleges Group’s BTEC course, told their peers about what they learned when they visited Auschwitz in Poland last year.
Sharing their experience at The Arsenal Hub, Jen spoke in detail about visiting both parts of the former concentration camp, Auschwitz and Birkenau.
She said: “The walls were filled with photos of people that lost their lives in the Holocaust. It really put into perspective how many victims there were, and how many families were affected.
“You can watch movies or read books on the Holocaust, but when you go to Auschwitz it hits home how serious it was.”
Lilybelle spoke about the importance of educating others on what they had learnt, saying: “It made me appreciate everything I have. We met people there that still experience antisemitic abuse today.
“We knew it was important for us to come back and educate people on this.”
Lilybelle and Jen both plan to hold more workshops on the subject, alongside Arsenal in the Community, adding: “The work done by Arsenal in the Community is really helpful, especially for our age group. We want to continue that.”
Both Jen and Lillybelle also spoke in front of local MPs at Islington Council’s Holocaust Memorial Event on January 27, where they shared their thoughts on what can be done to further educate people about the Holocaust.
Stephen Davis, Principal of United Colleges Group, said: “Jennika and Lilybelle are a real credit to themselves, Arsenal Football Club and the college for helping to raise awareness of what happened at Auschwitz.
“As educators, UCG is immensely proud to see students educating their peers.”
“My experience at College of Northwest London, has been exciting, it has been thrilling and it has been full of opportunities, and we have the tutors that help us whenever we’re in need. We go on educational trips to get a feel for what university life is like. We have the careers advisors that help us on our path, our university path.”
“The facilities here are brilliant. You have range of courses you can study. My teachers in the Performing Arts department have got history in the industry, which is very useful. You get to ask them for advice and actual knowledge from the industry, and take that into your own work within the college also afterwards. ”
“At City of Westminster College, my experience has been the best of all the other colleges I’ve attended. The reason I like CWC is because the teachers make my journey easier with assessment and exams. I’m a Level Two Science student and I enjoy my lessons because most of them are practical, which are helpful for me. I love studying at CWC because you meet people from other countries – all over the world and from all different communities.”
“My favourite thing about studying here has definitely got to be the teachers. They’re really helpful, kind and in the industry, so it’s good.”
“The technical knowledge and hands-on experience gained during my apprenticeship at College of North West London have been invaluable, particularly in understanding site processes, health and safety requirements and the understanding of electrical systems.”
“My experience studying at City of Westminster College has been amazing. It’s been so welcoming; I enjoy it very much because of the staff members we have here. They’re very approachable and I could come to them with any question, and it will be answered straight away. And if I come early for a class, I can use the Learning Resources Centre, I can use the computers, the books, just to continue all my studies outside the classroom time.”
“The training process was seamless. I had good instructors who were very flexible, supporting people of all learning levels. On the last day after our exams, a security company came and did a presentation. We had the opportunity to have an interview afterwards. I told them about my experiences, and they said I would be a good fit. I formally applied for a role and started with the company soon after. Getting into security has opened doors for me. I hope I will continue to take steps up the career ladder.”
“Coming to study at the City of Westminster College was the best decision that I had ever made. The teachers are very accommodating – they help you learn things in a way that might be easier for you to learn. They are very supportive and I think that’s one of the best things about learning here.”
“I was so grateful to have won Apprentice of the Year at the West London Business Awards 2026, I could not have done it without the support my company Size Group and the College of North West London.”
