Volunteer News & Appreciation

A Warm Welcome to Dave Jones 

Please join us in welcoming Dave Jones, who has recently joined our team of befrienders. Thank you, Dave, for your compassion and generosity in volunteering your time to support our community.

Special Visitors: Sue’s Upcoming Talk

We were pleased to welcome our long-time friend, Sue, to our London office as she prepares for a special talk she will be delivering as part of Road Victim Month.

Save the Date: 31 August 2025, 10:00–11:00 AM
Sue’s upcoming talk will offer a fascinating reflection on our profound connection to Diana, Princess of Wales, and the lasting impact of her legacy.

Pictured here with our Support Service Coordinator, Robyn Bone, Sue is working closely with our team to ensure this will be a meaningful and memorable event.

Stay tuned for further detail, we look forward to sharing more soon.

To all of you who participated in our inaugural RoadPeace Leaflet Week, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your efforts. It has been inspiring to see how many people there are, and how much energy there is, to step out of ordinary routines, and into new locations to spread the word about RoadPeace and the services we offer to victims of road collisions.

We have had word from people travelling by bike, bus, on foot, and in their cars to make it from one place to the next, including hospitals, coroner’s offices, supermarkets, community centres and places of worship, to name but a few.

Please read on HERE to find out about routes taken by one or two individuals who took part.

The Butterfly Ball

We were honoured to attend the Butterfly Ball last Saturday, held in memory of Paige Rice, who tragically died at just 22. Organised by her mum, Clare, the event was full of love and thoughtful touches – from heartfelt speeches to beautiful decorations. It raised an incredible £3,161.81 for RoadPeace, helping support others affected by road crashes. Thank you to Clare and all involved for such a moving and meaningful evening.

Parliamentary Debate

East Midlands volunteers, Nicole and Chris Taylor, wanted to draw your attention to a recent parliamentary debate, in which their MP, Mike Reader, highlighted the patchwork support provided to those impacted by road harm:

“I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. Chris and Nicole in my constituency lost their daughter Beccy nearly 18 years ago. On losing her, they discovered a postcode lottery for bereavement services. Some police services provide them, but some do not. It is important that we discuss road safety measures, but I hope my hon. Friend will agree that it is also important that we end that lottery, so that every family who loses someone in a road traffic accident has the bereavement support they should get.”

Please follow this link to read the debate in full. Thanks to Nicole and Chris for their advocacy.

FLO Conference – Introducing RoadPeace

Dee gave a presentation to 120 FLOs from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire, introducing them – most of whom had never heard of RoadPeace – to what the charity does.  Dee talked about her hopes for the East Midlands Group and how much she believes in the support RoadPeace provides.  Lucy and Dee shared some useful learning from our members for FLOs on topics including:

• Coping with the media

• The shock and unexpected nature of road death and serious injury

• Understanding trauma

• Why signposting is more than one conversation

• How overwhelming the criminal, coronial and civil justice processes can be

Following the conference a further two training sessions are in the process of being organised, and there have been enquiries about the possession boxes.

In Lucy’s words:

“It was great to work closely with Dee to deliver training which reflected the overall core missions of RoadPeace and the work we do, while having a bespoke regional element – showing FLOs exactly what we can offer for bereaved families and seriously injured victims in their region.  By working with Dee and the East Midlands Group, and pulling in learning from members right across the country we could impart some useful information and convey to FLOs how vital their role is and what families most need from them.  I was immensely proud of Dee.”

Thank you so much for everything you are giving in your volunteer role, Dee, and to the support you extend in your region and beyond.

City of Cars Film Screening

Lucy Harrison was invited to the screen premiere of City of Cars, at Mockingbird Cinema in Birmingham, which she attended alongside RoadPeace members Lucy Caldicott, Diane Cash and Natty Cash.

The film was made by videographer Sarah Chaundler, and provides an intimate telling of the story of eighteen months of harm on the roads of Birmingham, and the battling activists seeking to bring about change.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Jane Haynes from the Birmingham Mail, with Simon Foster (Police and Crime Commissioner), Mat Macdonald (Road Safety Commissioner), Rebecca Hawthorne (Birmingham City Council) and Lucy.

The Birmingham Mail wrote an article about the film, which you can read HERE.

Worcester University Conference

Our wonderful West Mercia member, Leanne Vaughan, presented at a conference on 1st July.  This took place at Worcester University, and was on the topic of harm.  Leanne spoke about her experience of losing her daughter, Lily-May – an incredibly brave thing to do. Thank you, Leanne, and well done.

Poem -The Dying Child, by John Clare

Pets’ Corner

This is Ruby. Merlyn Kendall has been cat-sitting for her, whilst enjoying watching some lawn tennis at Wimbledon.  It looks as if Ruby would like to change the channel; or maybe she’s meditating?