Brambles fights for survival

A LAST-ditch rescue package is being pieced together in a bid to save a Wyre Forest charity that helps bereaved children and their families overcome their grief.

Steve and Liz Fitzgerald, founders of the Brambles Trust and parents of one of the teenagers who died in the Hagley RC High School minibus crash in 1993, say it would be like suffering "another bereavement" if the organisation was to fold.

The trust has launched a survival bid after making four full-time family support workers redundant at the turn of the year.

They were based at its High Street office in Bewdley which is no longer manned. It's work with families has also been put on hold.

Now the trust - which recently lost substantial lottery funding which it had enjoyed for three years - has made an urgent appeal for people to come forward and help salvage the organisation.

Chairman Mr Fitzgerald believes the charity can overcome its lottery setback if more volunteers join the board of trustees which runs the organisation and enables the delivery of the bereavement programmes to families.

A range of options for the charity's future is being considered, including voluntary liquidation, but the preferred choice is to continue with a reduced service by recruiting more volunteers.

Mr Fitzgerald, who is due to meet trustees tonight, said: "Closing the trust completely would, for Liz and myself, be like another bereavement and so we are obviously keen for people to come forward and help us.

"When the national lottery withdrew its funding it did have a major impact on us. But we are not broke. There is some money in the bank and we can still fund our programmes.

"Our biggest problem is manpower and we will step up our search to replace the lottery funding once a new board of trustees has been put in place."

Mr Fitzgerald set up the trust with his wife following the death of their 13-year-old daughter, Claire, who was among the 12 children and a teacher killed when their minibus crashed on the M40 on its way back from a school trip to London.

The Brambles Trust helps children cope with the loss of close family members by providing structured courses, based on a psychological model of care.

It has helped around 500 families since it was launched in 1998, providing vital support for young people to deal with an unexpected death.

The organisation was dealt a major blow last November when its bid to renew £190,000 in lottery funding to pay for its work with bereaved children in North Worcestershire, South Shropshire and Dudley was turned down.

Now with a limited cash flow, it is keen to find volunteers to provide the platform it needs for its work. Areas where people can help include public relations and fund-raising.

He said: "We're looking for people to help provide the infrastructure for the organisation. Some may have a personal interest in what we do or they may have some skills to offer.

"Others would need a degree of experience in working with bereaved children, such as nurses, doctors, senior social workers and teachers."

He added: "Although there are serious messages underlying the courses, the families are having fun most of the time and the people who work with them find there are moments that do lift your soul."

Anyone who believes they can help the trust is urged to contact Mr Fitzgerald on 07904 101583 for further information.