Press Information from RIBI

PRESS CALL

Paul Daniels to help create the largest image in the world produced entirely out of CD ROMs for world record attempt at launch of Rotary’s Coping when Someone has Died CD-ROM

Date/Time: Friday 23 April, 2004 at 12.30pm
Place: Winton Cricket Ground, Maxwell Road, Bournemouth

The entertainer Paul Daniels will be launching the new Rotary Coping when Someone has Died CD-ROM on Friday 23 April. The CD-ROM is the newest addition to the Rotary ‘Coping with Life’ series of Multimedia programmes for schools, which are available, FREE, to all schools throughout the UK and Ireland.

Photo opportunity: World record attempt

To mark the launch of this project Rotary is attempting to create the largest image in the world produced entirely out of CD-ROMs. The image will be created on 23 April at Winton Cricket Club, Bournemouth. To produce the image 180,000 used CD-ROMs will be assembled by local school children into the shape of the Rotary wheel, assisted by Paul Daniels. It will be 100 metres across. 180,000 is the estimated number of people that will have died this year in the UK up to 23 April, an indication of how bereavement affects so many people.

Death is the one certain thing for us all yet it is a great mystery to children and a taboo. A death in the family, the death of a friend, of a teacher or even a pet can have a traumatic effect on children. This programme offers help and advice on how to cope. Many children have been involved with the production, offering their experiences as a help to others. Guidance is also available for teachers and families so that they can help children through the difficult times following a death.

The interactive CD-ROM has been backed by many organisations which advise on this issue. These include, The Association of Children’s Hospices, Bereavement Care Standards UK, Acorns Children’s Hospice (Birmingham), Richard House Childrens Hospice (London), Cruse Bereavement Care (Manchester), Marie Curie Cancer Care (Scarborough), The Candle Project (Sydenham), Sunrise - Edwards Trust (Birmingham), National Children’s Bureau (London), Notre Dame Centre (Glasgow), Childhood Bereavement Network (Nottingham), Barnardos Child Bereavement Services (Belfast and Newcastle upon Tyne), Winston’s Wish (Gloucester), Seasons for Growth (Greenford), Scottish Council for Research in Education (Edinburgh}, Rainbows (Sheffield), Children’s Hospice South West, National Association of Funeral Directors, The Pet Bereavement Support Service, Compassionate Friends.

The programme aims to remove some of the mysteries surrounding death, the one certain thing for us all yet often a taboo subject. It offers help and advice on how to cope with a death in the family, the death of a friend, of a teacher or even a pet and the traumatic effect these can have on children. Many activities are included designed to help children through the grieving period. It includes the true stories of many children offering their experiences as a help to others. It provides guidance for teachers and families to help children through these difficult times.

The project is the initiative of Rotary District 1030, which covers Cleveland, Co Durham, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, and development work has been the responsibility of local Rotarian, Colin Sawyer.

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Contacts: Judith Diment, (01628 672965 or 07860 162313), Colin Sawyer, Rotary, Coping with Life(01670 813470)

Notes to Editors: Coping when Someone has Died is a national initiative. Local Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland will provide Coping when Someone has Died CD-ROMs to schools in their area. The cost of the CDs is met by the local Rotary Clubs. If schools or parents require additional CDs, they can be ordered directly from Colin Sawyer on 01670 813470.