The All Ability Network

Walsall Disability Forum

The aim of the Forum is to coordinate the activities of disability organisations in the Borough so that through collective representation and action disabled and impaired people will enjoy their right to equality of opportunity, whether economic or social, in whatever lifestyle they may choose.

LOTTERY GRANT OF £205,000 TO RESEARCH HEALING

A lottery grant has been awarded to research the benefits of Healing provided by members of NFSH/The Healing Trust by the University of Birmingham over the next two years.

The grant was awarded to Freshwinds, a Birmingham medical charity, which will work in collaboration with the University. Patients of a Birmingham hospital who have been diagnosed with particular bowel problems, and who are still suffering after completing their conventional treatment, will be offered a series of five healing sessions.

The grant application was supported by a hospital audit of 75 gastroenterology patients who had received one 20-minute healing session.

Sandy Edwards, the volunteer healer who produced the audit, says, "Anyone with IBS, psoriasis or eczema knows that their symptoms get worse when they are stressed or worried. This tells me that a physical chemical reaction is taking place in the body as a result of their negative emotional state. Healing deeply calms people but there is more going on than simply relaxation or placebo. For instance, research shows that healing works under laboratory conditions on human tissue in petri dishes, and also on animals and plants."

Veronica Bowden, General Manager of The Healing Trust, says, "We are thrilled that our healing is being researched by such a prestigious university. Although we have countless testimonials that healing works, additional research will help healing to become more widely available within the NHS. We offer national, professional standards that patients should expect of practitioners working within the NHS. Our voluntary healing centres throughout the country are available to everyone and details can be found on our website www.thehealingtrust.org.uk or by contacting us."

For a session at Rushall's voluntary healing group (www.midlandshealing.org.uk), call Dave Daniels on 01922 611788 for a Sunday evening appointment or Sandy Edwards for a Monday morning appointment.