Vulnerable children given £1million boost

VITAL Barnardo’s services which help more than 300,000 vulnerable children will get a £1,027,745 injection thanks to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

The money raised by players of October’s draw, will help fund the charity’s crucial mental health, care leaver and child sexual exploitation services in England, Wales and Scotland.

Louise Parkes, Corporate Director of Income and Innovation at Barnardo’s, said:

“This fantastic cash boost raised by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery is going to change the lives of many children for the better.

“It will help us continue to help children and young people to recover from the traumas and difficulties of their pasts and build positive, happy futures.

“We are so grateful to everyone who took part for helping us to support the amazing young people we work with across the UK. On behalf of all of us at Barnardo’s, thank you so much.”

Hazel Johnstone, from the charities team at People’s Postcode Lottery, welcomed the partnership. She said:

“I’m delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are now supporting Barnardo’s.

“This funding will have such a life-changing impact for thousands of vulnerable children in Great Britain.

“There is a vast need for more services to support children with their mental health, preparing young care leavers and ensuring those that have been sexually exploited get the recovery and support that they need to move forward with their lives.”

The money will help young care leavers like James*, who struggled with anger management issues and became involved with anti-social behaviour. It was only when he moved into semi-independent accommodation run by Barnardo’s aged 17, where he learnt about cooking, cleaning and budgeting, that he feels his life started to change for the better.

Now 20, he said: “Barnardo’s gave me a place to find my feet and start to realise who I am. The staff respected me as a person, and I didn’t feel like I was being punished anymore. I knew they’d fight my corner and would always be there for me.”

Some children and young people supported by the charity have been sexually abused or exploited. Aged 14, Ruby* was referred to Barnardo’s after self-harming and thinking about taking her own life as a result of being involved in manipulative and abusive relationships.

Ruby said: “A Barnardo’s project worker helped me to work through my past. The sessions became a lifeline. Their support has allowed me to move on to a new chapter of my life.”

Case Studies

James’ story

James*, now 20, admits he was “off the rails” when he was younger. He struggled with anger management issues, became involved with anti-social behaviour and was taken into foster care aged 14. He went on to spend time at friends’ houses and in secure accommodation and then a care home.

But it was only when he moved into semi-independent accommodation run by Barnardo’s aged 17 that he feels his life started to change for the better.

He said: “The staff respected me as a person and I didn’t feel like I was being punished anymore. It’s the way they spoke to me, the positive energy and the positive thoughts. They were impartial and non-judgmental. I knew they’d fight my corner and would always be there for me. It felt like a family.

“It’s changed me in every way. I’ve learned to be more responsible and more mature, to weigh up the pros and cons and think about the consequences of my actions.”

Today, James is enrolled on an apprenticeship and now has his own home, although he still receives regular ongoing support.

Ruby’s story

Ruby* was just 14 when she started using dating apps and sending pictures and videos to people she met online. She had sex with one of the boys who later tried to pressure her into sex again. She managed to leave safely, but although it frightened her, it didn’t stop her meeting more boys from the internet.

She began self-harming and became involved with a boy who grew manipulative, forcing her to stay awake all night and one time threatening to kill himself, saying it would be her fault if he did.

Ruby said: “No matter how many times he made me cry and how many times he threatened to leave, everything would be fine again with just one kind word. I would forget everything because he called me beautiful.”

Ruby, who considered taking her own life, finally told her parents she was self-harming, but it was only when they called the police after she was caught meeting boys from the internet again that she was referred to Barnardo’s.

She said: “A Barnardo’s project worker helped me to work through my past and understand grooming and what happened to me. The sessions helped, and they became a lifeline. They helped me know I wasn’t to blame for what happened.

“Barnardo’s helped me find a way back to the old me – someone I thought I’d lost forever. Their support has allowed me to move on to a new chapter of my life.”

*Names have been changed. 

The post Vulnerable children given £1million boost appeared first on Charity Today News.