
Exciting news! Our Volunteers Newsletter has evolved. It’s now a Volunteer Blog on our website! This change means more frequent updates, personal stories, and highlights from our amazing volunteer community, all in one accessible place.
In this July edition, we reflect on the powerful work our volunteers have done, share their voices, and look ahead to what’s coming next in our journey for safer streets and remembrance.
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.
Community Highlights: Events & Engagement
Leaflet Week!
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
This month our amazing East Midlands coordinator, Dee Beesley, bravely spoke for the first time in front of a room of over 100 people at the East Midlands FLO Conference, at Leicestershire Police. She attended alongside RoadPeace Justice and Outreach Manager (and West Mercia, West Midlands and Siblings Group Coordinator) Lucy Harrison.
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.
Wedding Tribute: Honouring Robert Bown
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.
RoadPeace Creativity
RoadPeace Creativity
This section of the newsletter offers a space for you to share your creative projects and hobbies.
This month we have a contribution from the very special Merlyn Kendall. Apart from keeping herself very busy running the North West Support Group, Merlyn enjoys embroidery. Here is one of her recently finished pieces. You are obviously very talented, Merlyn – the combination of pattern and colour is really lovely.
Poem -The Dying Child, by John Clare

He could not die when trees were green,
For he loved the time too well.
His little hands, when flowers were seen,
Were held for the bluebell,
As he was carried o’er the green.
His eye glanced at the white-nosed bee;
He knew those children of the spring:
When he was well and on the lea
He held one in his hands to sing,
Which filled his heart with glee.
Infants, the children of the spring!
How can an infant die
When butterflies are on the wing,
Green grass, and such a sky?
How can they die at spring?
He held his hands for daisies white,
And then for violets blue,
And took them all to bed at night
That in the green fields grew,
As childhood’s sweet delight.
And then he shut his little eyes,
And flowers would notice not;
Birds’ nests and eggs caused no surprise,
He now no blossoms got;
They met with plaintive sighs.
When winter came and blasts did sigh,
And bare were plain and tree,
As he for ease in bed did lie
His soul seemed with the free,
He died so quietly.
Submissions Welcome
If any of you have creative items that you would like us to include in forthcoming issues, we would welcome your ideas and will try to publish them over the coming months. Please don’t be shy! You don’t need to be a professional to share your work – everything is welcome, including photography. Please email nadia.morgan@roadpeace.org with your suggestions.
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?

