West Midlands residents scoop 10 prestigious Churchill Travelling Fellowships

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

10 of these grants, totalling almost £58,330 have been awarded to people in the West Midlands. The Fellows will travel to 12 countries between them, across five continents, where they will carry out a wide range of projects. The average length of a Fellowship is six weeks.

This year’s West Midlands Fellows are:

• Jeszemma Garratt, from Dudley, and Training and Development Manager at the Fatherhood Institute, who will be travelling to Canada, Trinidad & Tobago and Vietnam to investigate approaches to engaging fathers in supporting their partners to breastfeed.
• Nathan Jones, an Assistant Headteacher from Birmingham, who will be travelling to Israel and the USA to explore approaches to instilling national values in schools.
• Richard Wakelin, from Market Drayton, and the Head of Education at a Young Offender Institution, who will be travelling to the Netherlands and Norway to explore the role of education in reducing reoffending.
• Sophie Atkinson, a Housing Association Director from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, who will be travelling to Canada and the USA to research innovative housing and care for people with learning disabilities.
• Clare Bennett, a Registered Nurse and Senior Lecturer from Worcester, who will be travelling to the Netherlands to explore approaches for parents in discussing sex and sexuality with their children.
• Martin Yarnit, from Worcester, who will be travelling to the USA to explore how community shops can grow whilst supporting local food and drink producers.
• Mark Measures, from Craven Arms, Shropshire, an organic farming consultant and Director of the Institute of Organic Training and Advice at the Organic Research Centre, who will be travelling to Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and the USA to study approaches to soil management which ensure sustainable food production and environmental protection.
• Carl Patrick, an Applications Engineer from Nuneaton, who will be travelling to Germany and Japan to research ways of inspiring young people to pursue careers in mechanical engineering.
• Sian Phillips, a Senior Occupational Therapist from Solihull, who will be travelling to Australia and Canada to research best practice in treating children with brain injuries.
• Dr Caroline Bradbury-Jones, a Reader in Nursing from Edgbaston, who will be travelling to New Zealand to research health professionals' responses to domestic violence.

Since its inception in February 1965, 5,400 ordinary men and women have been awarded Churchill Fellowships, from over 101,000 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