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DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES MEMORIAL COMMITTEE Preliminary advice to HM Government 
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Contents Proposal for community children's nursing teams Proposal for an award for young people who make an outstanding contribution to the community Proposal for a garden in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales Diana, Princess of Wales commemorative crown Membership of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES MEMORIAL COMMITTEE PRELIMINARY ADVICE TO HM GOVERNMENT The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee, chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is advising HM Government as to how the life of Diana, Princess of Wales can best be commemorated. This document sets out the preliminary advice of the Memorial Committee. The Memorial Committee has been meeting regularly since January 1998 to consider more than 10,000 ideas received from people from all walks of life, including school children, pensioners, voluntary organisations, local authorities, artists and professional bodies. In seeking to identify a permanent memorial to Diana, Princess of Wales, the Memorial Committee has also tried to develop ideas which will continue the work she started. Our preliminary advice is that HM Government should take forward proposals for: developing community children's nursing services to support children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses and their families; recognising young people who make an outstanding contribution to the community; and, subject to public consultation, a memorial garden in Kensington Gardens. This document sets out these proposals in outline. In all these areas Government Departments have agreed to make detailed recommendations to the Memorial Committee as to how the proposals should be developed and implemented. In addition, Her Majesty the Queen has approved a recommendation
from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that a commemorative crown piece
should be issued next year in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.
PROPOSAL FOR COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S NURSING TEAMS Outline proposal The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Committee supports a proposal to develop, across the United Kingdom, a network of community children's nursing teams in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Memorial Committee expect this proposal to be widely acknowledged as a worthwhile and appropriate living memorial to her life and work. The Memorial Committee expect support, not only from the public, a great many of whom have suggested that Diana, Princess of Wales be remembered through help with sick children, but also from the nursing profession, doctors, charities working in this field and, most importantly, the many children and young people and their families who would benefit directly. These nurse-led teams would specialise in providing care for children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses and their families in their own homes. They would take an active and comprehensive approach to care which would embrace the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the children and their families. Teams would be managed by local NHS Trusts. They would be led by nurses and would include doctors, care staff and therapists. They would have access to doctors, counsellors and "family friends" as well as other agencies such as social services and educational authorities. They would be able to organise everyday, practical help such as help with shopping or travel as well as the provision of specialist medical support. All sick children and their families can become isolated, and miss out on available help because they simply do not know it is available. In addition to providing the highest standards of healthcare, these community children's nursing teams would help by bringing together all the different sources of support, including:
The value of caring for children in their own homes has been recognised for over half a century. But still only around half of all Local Health Authorities can provide community nursing services for children, and only three have children's community children's nursing teams specialising in providing palliative and specialist care for children with life-threatening conditions. It is estimated that for every 250,000 people in the United Kingdom, the average population of a health district, there are 50 children who would benefit from the care provided by a community children's nursing team established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Memorial Committee hope that over time every one of these children and their families will have a team in their area who they can call any time of the day or night. It will be important for team members to have opportunities to develop their skills, and this would be an integral part of the proposal across the United Kingdom. At the outset, some areas could concentrate on training rather than establishing teams. The first pioneering teams could be in place as early as next year. Over the next three years, there would be thorough assessment of needs, and existing resources, across the United Kingdom. As the number of teams expanded, there would be a careful evaluation of how well different models of community children's nursing teams were meeting local needs and priorities. Next Steps Frank Dobson, the Secretary of State for Health, has agreed to take forward this proposal, together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will make a detailed recommendation to the Memorial Committee as to how this proposal should be developed and implemented across the United Kingdom. The first pioneering teams could be in place as early as next year. In making this recommendation, the Secretary of State will take into account the views of representatives of bodies already involved in this area of care, as well as children with life-threatening and life limiting illnesses and their families themselves. Acknowledgments The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee are extremely
grateful to all those who have helped in the development of this proposal
including: Action for Sick Children; the Association of Children's
Hospices; the Association for Children with Life-threatening or Terminal
Conditions and their Families (ACT); Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood
(CLIC); Contact a Family; the Symptom Care Team and Bereavement Services
Department at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital NHS Trust; Macmillan
Cancer Relief; the Royal College of Nursing; and the Royal College
of Paediatrics and Child Health.
PROPOSAL FOR AN AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAKE AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY Outline Proposal The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee support the development of a new award which would celebrate and support the achievements of young people throughout the United Kingdom. Every secondary school in the United Kingdom, including the independent sector and special schools, would be invited to participate in the award scheme. Each participating school would be able to make one award a year to a pupil or group of pupils who have made an outstanding contribution to the community by:
The Memorial Committee recommend that this award, which would reflect Diana, Princess of Wales' personal interest in helping and supporting young people and those disadvantaged in life, would be a fitting and long-lasting way in which to commemorate her. The Memorial Committee would expect this proposal to attract widespread support from secondary schools, young people and from organisations involved in education, youth development and volunteering. Recognising and encouraging achievement The award would provide a way for participating schools to recognise the particularly praiseworthy activities of their pupils. But it would also provide a strong focus for schools to encourage new activities which would promote the involvement and participation of young people in the health of their school and local community. In both these ways, the award would support the Government's initiatives to enhance citizenship and promote social inclusion. Schools would be encouraged to look at activities which their pupils undertake inside or outside school, either on a personal basis or in groups. The award could be made to an individual or a group. Schools would need to take into account the changing patterns of the school life of young people, but they should be looking for evidence of sustained achievement and commitment over a period. Schools would be encouraged to look for pupils who have given something to the community of their own free will and usually on their own initiative. Suitable activities might include:
In deciding who should get the award, schools would need to take into account the age and the particular personal, social and environmental circumstances of the pupils concerned, and what might normally be expected of them at their age and in those circumstances. The award would complement and not displace existing awards, for example, the Philip Lawrence Awards for activities against crime lawlessness, violence and promoting community safety and racial harmony, or the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Service Section where participants are required to train for and give service to others. Young people who have won, or are under consideration for, existing awards would also be able to be considered for this new award. Practicalities A central awards office would be responsible for setting the guidelines of the scheme and its monitoring. But to simplify its administration, the awards would be made by each school, using an assessment panel formed by the school or governing body. Schools' assessment panels could include, for example, pupils, school governors, parents, teachers, and local role models and could be chaired by the chair of the school governors or the head teacher. Schools' assessment panels would seek nominations for the award from young people, teachers, parents, governors, local youth groups and others working with young people. Anyone who has directly benefitted from exceptionally praiseworthy activity by the young people would also be encouraged to make a nomination. The central awards office, through its national promotion of the scheme, would help schools to attract nominations from the wider community. The administrative burden for schools would be kept to a minimum. When schools were making their first awards, they would be required only to send a recommendation to the central awards office on a short and simple, standard nomination form. Provided that the achievement recognised met the objectives and quality standards of the award scheme, the awards office would endorse the recommendation, and the school would make the award. In subsequent years, the school would be allowed to make an award without the prior endorsement of the central awards office. Schools would simply be required to send a completed nomination form to the awards office reporting on how the award was made including the activities being recognised and what made them outstanding. The central awards office would check a proportion of the nominations received to ensure quality standards were maintained and to ensure consistency in the application of the award. If any weaknesses were identified, the school would be approached with advice on how to correct them. The form of award The main means of commemoration, which would be provided by the central awards office, would be a suitably designed emblem to display in the school and something for each winner to keep, as a reminder of their award. But it would be open to schools to decide to award a prize, or support for the activity being recognised, in addition to the main means of commemoration provided by the central awards office. The school's assessment panel would decide how to present the award, perhaps at the school's annual prize-giving. The school's assessment panel would be encouraged to approach local media to encourage them to recognise, celebrate and support the achievements of their young people. The central awards office might seek wider recognition for young people's achievements through their work with the community and encourage participation through national media coverage for exemplary awards, and for example, by listing the names of all winners in a national newspaper. Local Education Authorities could help to foster the scheme including, for example, by hosting a joint awards ceremony for all types of secondary schools in their area who are taking part. Each year the central awards office would provide schools with details of some of the most imaginative and worthwhile achievements that have been recorded. This would encourage innovation and help to spread good practice. The central awards office might also highlight particular types of activities to help ensure that the scheme developed in a way that reflected the emerging priorities of schools. Next steps David Blunkett, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has agreed to take forward this proposal, together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and will make a detailed recommendation to the Memorial Committee as to how this award should be developed and administered across the United Kingdom. The first awards could be given in schools next year. In making this recommendation, the Secretary of State will take into account the views of representatives from secondary schools and their young people, and other bodies involved in the education, youth and volunteering fields. Acknowledgments The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee are extremely
grateful to all those who have helped in the development of this proposal,
including: the Citizenship Foundation; the Community Service Volunteers;
the Director of Education at the London Borough of Hammersmith and
Fulham; the Director of Education and Leisure of Westminster City
Council; the Duke of Edinburgh's Award; the Institute for Citizenship
Studies; the National Governors' Council; the Philip Lawrence Awards;
the Prince's Trust; the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; and
the Secondary Heads' Association.
PROPOSAL FOR A GARDEN IN MEMORY OF DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee supports, in principle, a proposal for a memorial garden in Kensington Gardens. Of all the proposals the Memorial Committee received, gardens and fountains were amongst the most popular and appropriate ways in which the public wanted to remember Diana, Princess of Wales. Kensington Palace was Diana, Princess of Wales' home, and she sought recreation in the gardens around it. People have chosen Kensington Gardens as the place to go to pay their respects. In the days following her death, an enormous number of flowers and tributes were placed in front of the Palace, entirely spontaneously. And ever since, more than 100 bouquets have been left there every week. People will continue to visit Kensington Gardens to remember Diana, Princess of Wales and the Memorial Committee feel that, in response to this, the gardens should be enhanced, in a sympathetic way, as a place of remembrance. A memorial garden in Kensington Gardens could encompass: to the south of Kensington Palace, a garden respecting the historic setting; to the north, a children's garden; and, linking the two, a fountain in the Round Pond. This would allow Kensington Gardens to be enhanced in an imaginative and sympathetic way for visitors arriving from the North, South or East. Many people visiting Kensington Gardens to remember Diana, Princess of Wales have chosen to walk from there to Westminster. The Memorial Committee feel that there is potential for recognising people's wish to walk from Kensington Gardens and encouraging it, by creating a memorial walking route from Kensington through the Royal Parks to St James's. Establishing this route by the use of markers on the paths and widely available maps might make this an attractive, enjoyable and healthy option for visitors. Because it is important that any proposals of this kind should command widespread public support before they are implemented, the Chancellor has asked Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to provide an early opportunity to residents, the relevant authorities and the wider public to put forward their views on the proposal for a memorial garden in Kensington Gardens. This consultation exercise will be launched in the week beginning 6 July 1998. An early environmental impact study will also be commissioned. The Royal Parks Agency, English Heritage and Historic Royal Palaces Trust have been asked jointly to advise on the principles that should govern the creation of a memorial garden in these areas. The Secretary of State will make this advice available to the public for comment. Following this preliminary consultation exercise, the Memorial
Committee will consider a design brief that takes account of the response,
and should the Memorial Committee continue to support the proposal,
there will be an international competition for a designer. Any design
would still be subject to the formal consultation process required
for a proposal of this kind.
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES COMMEMORATIVE CROWN Her Majesty the Queen has approved a recommendation from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that a commemorative crown piece should be issued in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. This coin will bear on the obverse a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, and on the reverse a portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales. The five-pound coin will be struck primarily for people to keep. It will be available at face value from banks and post offices by 1 July 1999, the anniversary of the birthday of Diana, Princess of Wales. There will also be collector versions in base and precious metal available from early in the year. The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee feel that an official
United Kingdom coin will be welcomed as a simple and tasteful way
in which many people, both here and in many other countries, will
wish to remember her.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown - Chairman the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Camoys, representing the Royal Household; Lady Sarah McCorquodale, representing Earl Spencer (who also attends when he is in the country) and the Spencer family; Lord Attenborough; Mr Paul Burrell; Baroness Chalker of Wallasey; Diane Louise Jordan; Mr Anthony Julius; The Honourable Rosa Monckton; Jane Tewson.
To advise HM Government as to how the Life of Diana, Princess
of Wales can best be commemorated, complementing the work of the Diana,
Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. In taking forward this work, the
Committee will take into account the views of the members of the public,
and have regard to the charities and causes which the Princess supported.
The Memorial Committee has been assisted by an advisory group
of representatives from all the main political parties and by a group
of nearly 100 charities and causes which the Princess supported during
her lifetime.
Enquiries on the Memorial Committee should be addressed to: Samantha Beckett Secretary Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Committee H M Treasury Parliament Street London SW1P 3AGMedia Enquiries on the Memorial Committee should be addressed to Charles Keseru, H M Treasury Press Office on 0171 270 5188. |
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