January 2024
Sarum College is pleased to congratulate Helen Holtam and The Revd Professor Liz Stuart for their national honours announced at the end of last month.
Helen Holtam was awarded an MBE for services to prisoners. As Tutor for the Friends of Erlestoke Prison, she runs the Origami Inside project. The project has a dual purpose to offer mindful social activity to the prisoners and revenues from the handmade cards are given to The Friends of Erlestoke for prisoner rehabilitation.
“In this environment, there are many challenges – huge queues and delays, noise, and a multitude of other things,” explained one participant. “Having origami to concentrate on is a helpful distraction and way of overcoming these challenges. Instead of being frustrated at a 25-minute unexplained delay, you can end up feeling calm and pleased that you’re doing something constructive and tangible to help others. There are few positives in this environment, but origami is definitely one of them.” (Read the article on the Origami Inside Project)
Helen’s long association and support for Sarum’s work continues, and the College sells Origami Inside cards to visitors.
“Helen has been tireless in her passionate belief that every individual matters,” says James Woodward, Principal of Sarum College. “She has worked to ensure that prisoners and their rehabilitation needs are known and understood. This national recognition is so well deserved — her work at Erlestoke prison has been steady, faithful and encouraging for both prisoners and staff.
Sarum College Trustee Liz Stuart was awarded an MBE for services to higher education.
Professor Stuart was recently appointed Trustee here following her long career in higher education at the University of Winchester. She has been a great advocate for the role of theology in Higher Education and has championed inclusive practical theology. She also has enabled the development of Sarum’s relationship with Winchester particularly in the area of doctoral research. She delivered the Academic Awards Keynote Address in 2018, entitled Three Challenges Before the Tomb
“Liz models how to ‘make things happen’ without getting in the way!” comments James Woodward. “She is a natural facilitator and enabler. She is trusted and wise and these qualities over thirty years have contributed to the generativity and flourishing of many individuals and groups in academy and church. We look forward to her leadership on the Board of Trustees in the years ahead. Her award is a great tribute to her tireless work in the academy.”
Professor Stuart is an assistant priest in the Diocese of Winchester.
Leave a Reply