Award for Erasmus Darw<strong>in</strong> House ............................ Erasmus Darw<strong>in</strong> House was once the home of Erasmus Darw<strong>in</strong>, grandfather of Charles Darw<strong>in</strong> and a respected resident of <strong>Lichfield</strong> for more than 20 years. Erasmus established and ran a successful medical practice <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lichfield</strong>, but <strong>in</strong> his spare time his <strong>in</strong>terests were many and varied. He was considered the foremost poet of his day, and was an <strong>in</strong>ventor, botanist, philosopher, and a founder member of the Lunar Society, the midlands group which had such an important <strong>in</strong>fluence on the development of science and <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> the late 18th century. Restored and opened to the public as a museum and education centre <strong>in</strong> 1999, the house is run by the Erasmus Darw<strong>in</strong> Foundation, an <strong>in</strong>dependent Charitable Trust with the aim of promot<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternational awareness of the life and achievements of Erasmus Darw<strong>in</strong> and the way <strong>in</strong> which they relate to today’s world, <strong>in</strong> a manner that is enjoyable and easily understood by all. The museum is reliant almost completely upon its own earned <strong>in</strong>come and the help of a team of committed volunteers, without whom the foundation would be unable to function. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstand<strong>in</strong>g work by volunteer groups to benefit their local South Staffordshire Cruse Bereavement Care ............................ South Staffordshire Cruse is a local branch of Cruse Bereavement Care which is the lead<strong>in</strong>g national charity for bereaved people. Cruse offers support, advice and <strong>in</strong>formation to children, young people and adults when someone dies, and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people. Bereavement affects everyone and can have a devastat<strong>in</strong>g effect on emotional, physical and mental health. Cruse support helps people understand their feel<strong>in</strong>gs, develop cop<strong>in</strong>g strategies, and return to everyday life, while remember<strong>in</strong>g and celebrat<strong>in</strong>g the lives of those who have died. Cruse offers face-to-face, group, telephone, email and website support. It has a Freephone National Helpl<strong>in</strong>e (0808 808 1677) and local services throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland it has a sister organisation, Cruse Scotland. Many of the local branches provide children’s services, and part of the website, Hope Aga<strong>in</strong>, provides support for young people. All services are provided by tra<strong>in</strong>ed volunteers and are confidential and free. At present South Staffordshire Cruse are able to offer telephone support throughout our area and will be able to offer face-to-face sessions <strong>in</strong> the com<strong>in</strong>g weeks <strong>in</strong> some areas. Anyone who wishes to access support can contact Cruse local Helpl<strong>in</strong>e 01543 433479. Cruse also provides tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and consultancy for external organisations and for those who may encounter bereaved people <strong>in</strong> the communities. It was created <strong>in</strong> 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. The Foundation was one of 230 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive this prestigious award 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was necessary to delay the presentation of the award. Representatives of Erasmus Darw<strong>in</strong> Foundation were delighted to receive the award from Ian Dudson CBE, Knight of the Order of St John, Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire on 20th October <strong>2021</strong>. course of their work. Nationally Cruse has played a vital role <strong>in</strong> respond<strong>in</strong>g to disasters and terrorist <strong>in</strong>cidents, most recently provid<strong>in</strong>g specialist services after the Manchester Arena Bomb<strong>in</strong>g, Borough Market Attacks and Grenfell Tower Fire. Cruse campaigns on behalf of bereaved people, speak<strong>in</strong>g out on issues that impact them f<strong>in</strong>ancially, practically or emotionally. South Staffordshire Cruse is also <strong>in</strong>volved with St Giles Hospice <strong>in</strong> the provision of local Bereavement Help Po<strong>in</strong>ts which offer <strong>in</strong>formal support for anyone who has been touched by grief, past or present, directly or <strong>in</strong>directly, who can drop <strong>in</strong>to the sessions without an appo<strong>in</strong>tment and see how Cruse can help. At Bereavement Help Po<strong>in</strong>ts Cruse offers a supportive environment to anyone who is experienc<strong>in</strong>g or has experienced a bereavement, irrespective of the nature of the bereavement or when the person died. You can drop <strong>in</strong> for a short time or stay for the whole session. You can meet other people who have experienced a loss and there are tra<strong>in</strong>ed bereavement support volunteers from Cruse Bereavement Care or St Giles Hospice on hand to listen and offer advice and <strong>in</strong>formation on emotional, practical and social aspects of bereavement. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the pandemic these had to be closed but Cruse cont<strong>in</strong>ued to offer some of these sessions by Zoom so was able to cont<strong>in</strong>ue to support <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>in</strong> the community who have been struggl<strong>in</strong>g with aspects of their bereavement. In recent weeks, a number of the Bereavement Help Po<strong>in</strong>ts have reopened at: • Tamworth, Sacred heart Church Community Room, Silverl<strong>in</strong>k Road, Tamworth, B77 2EA. Friday 10am – 12pm • Burntwood, St Johns Community Church, High Street, Chasetown, WS7 1LR. Mondays 2:30pm – 4:30 pm • Rugeley, Rugeley Community Centre, Burnthill Lane, Rugeley, WS15 2HX. Thursday 10:30am – 12:30 pm Anyone want<strong>in</strong>g more details of the sessions can contact Cruse local Helpl<strong>in</strong>e 01543 433479 or St Giles 01543 434536. 56
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