Tower Hamlets residents scoop five prestigious Churchill Travelling Fellowships

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust has awarded 150 travelling Fellowships across the UK.

Five of these grants, totalling almost £36,000, have been awarded to people in Tower Hamlets. The Fellows will travel to eight countries between them, across four continents, where they will carry out a wide range of projects. The average length of a Fellowship is six weeks.

This year’s Tower Hamlets Fellows are:

• Ian Browne, an Advice and Information Officer from Bethnal Green, who will be travelling to the USA to investigate models of pro bono legal support.
• Peter Todd, from Bethnal Green, and the Director of an independent music company, who will be travelling to Brazil, Canada, Jamaica and the USA to study approaches to developing musicians from deprived backgrounds.
• Robin Hinks, from Bow, and a Research and Policy Officer at the Food Foundation, who will be travelling to Brazil and the USA to observe community programmes aimed at increasing vegetable and fruit consumption.
• Dr Rebecca Amissah, a medical doctor from Bow, who will be travelling to the USA to study approaches to using art and music to improve mental health outcomes for people with mental health conditions.
• Kelly Shaw, from Bethnal Green, and Design and Production Manager at a community arts charity, who will be travelling to Bangladesh, Denmark, India, Norway and the USA to investigate programmes supporting vulnerable women into employment.

Since its inception in February 1965, 5,400 ordinary men and women have been awarded Churchill Fellowships, from over 100,000 applicants. The ethos remains the same five decades on – for individuals to visit different parts of the world in pursuit of new and better ways of tackling a wide range of social, environmental, medical and scientific issues. The new approaches and innovative ideas with which they return are shared to benefit their local and regional communities, and, in many cases, the nation.

Before his death in 1965, Sir Winston was adamant that he did not wish to have another statue as his memorial, so he approved the setting up of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (www.wcmt.org.uk) as his national memorial and living legacy, for the benefit of future generations. Millions of grateful people gave personal contributions to the public appeal.

“Churchill Fellows are motivated and talented individuals who travel globally and return with innovative ideas and a commitment to share their findings to help others in the UK,” says Julia Weston, Chief Executive of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

Churchill Fellows come from all over the UK and from many different backgrounds. They must be UK citizens aged 18 or over, but no qualifications are required. What Fellows share is a passion to make a difference and a desire to share their passion to inspire others.

Notes to Editors:

In total 150 Fellowships have been awarded across the UK in 2017, an investment of over £1,400,000 in UK citizens. The Fellows will be travelling to 49 countries between them, across 6 continents. The categories for the 2018 Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowships will be announced on 09 May 2017.

See www.wcmt.org.uk for more details.

We have many examples of Fellows’ stories of achievement from 1965 to the present day. If you would like one from a particular year or location, or would like to interview a Fellow, please contact The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Press Office on 020 7799 1660, or email press@wcmt.org.uk