Friends House hosts homicide-bereaved memorial
5: The percentage of people bereaved by homicide who never work again, according to Escaping Victimhood.
Friends House hosted a memorial service to support people bereaved by homicide last week. The service also featured artwork depicting a large white poppy field commissioned by Escaping Victimhood, a Quaker Recognised Body (QRB) which also organised the event. Vicky Torrance, who works for the charity, told the Friend that Escaping Victimhood runs four-day interventions to help support people bereaved by homicide. ‘If you lose someone to murder, five per cent of people never work again,’ she said. ‘Marriages often break down, and there can be huge financial consequences.’
Written by people bereaved by homicide, the peace-themed memorial service was designed to link with the International Day of Peace two days earlier, on 21 September. Focusing on finding personal peace, the day also featured poetry, singing, and a video created by patron Terry Waite. The charity also commissioned artist Radus Vanka who painted a field of white poppies. During the service, the people placed photos of their loved ones at the centre of each poppy. Titled ‘Peace on the Street’, the artwork is ‘an act of remembrance’, said Vicky, but also ‘a thought-provoking piece that will make people think about the impact of violence on our communities’.
Vicky Torrance told the Friend that Escaping Victimhood was set up by Quaker Tim Newell who developed the intervention based on his work in the criminal justice system. ‘A lot of people were seeing the victims get a real raw deal, so he ran the first therapeutic prison in the country, about rehabilitating offenders rather than incarcerating them.’
The four-day intervention includes workshops to ‘help people understand the impact of trauma on their bodies and interpersonal relationships,’ said Vicky Torrance. Studies indicate that the intervention reduces trauma symptoms over time. Formerly run at Woodbrooke, the programme is now looking for a new home.
The service was held in partnership with Through Unity in the George Fox Room on 23 September. It was funded by National Lottery Awards for All and the CB and HH Taylor 1984 Trust. ‘Peace on the Street’ will be on display on the first floor of Friends House.
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