‘Letters to heaven’ post box founder awarded Medal of Honour

Matilda Handy, has received a British Citizen Youth Award Medal of Honour, after her wish to connect with her late grandparents led to the installation of memorial post boxes at crematoria across the country. The young girl, who wanted to send birthday and Christmas cards to her late grandmother, who passed away in 2017, was presented with the medal at a special ceremony at The Palace of Westminster. Matilda’s mother, Leanne Handy, is a memorial advisor at Gedling Crematorium, which is part of Westerleigh Group. As a result of Matilda’s idea, a Letters To Heaven memorial post box was installed at Gedling last December, and within a few weeks, more than 100 letters and cards had been posted. The idea received such positive feedback that Westerleigh Group decided to install a memorial post box at each of its sites all over the country. Other crematorium groups, funeral directors and even a cats and dogs home were so inspired by the idea that they have installed similar memorial post boxes, and Westerleigh Group had enquiries from other providers all over Europe and as far away as the USA and Australia. The idea saw Matilda be invited to take part in numerous television and radio interviews, including the BBC One Show, and she also appeared on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. She was also invited to a special reception at 10 Downing Street by Rishi Sunak, where she was recognised as a Points of Light; the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award is a daily programme recognising outstanding volunteers, charity leaders and community heroes for the service they give to others. The British Citizen Youth Award, now in its eighth year, recognises young people, aged under 18, from across the UK who have made a positive difference to their communities and to society. Matilda said: “I am very thankful to be honoured with this award and would like to thank all my friends, family and everyone at Westerleigh Group for their support in helping me through this.” Debbie Smith, CEO of Westerleigh Group, said: “We are delighted for yet another recognition for Matilda’s contribution to bereaved families. The legacy of her idea is now helping to bring comfort to thousands of bereaved people around the country and abroad. “We’ve received lots of incredibly positive feedback from people who tell us they have gained therapeutic benefit and comfort through the act of posting cards, letters and messages to loved ones they have lost.” She added: “We are very proud of Matilda and her achievement, she is a very deserving medallist and a true example of an honourable and engaged young citizen who has made a positive difference to the lives of so many people.”