PCC awards vital funding to help support children affected by domestic abuse
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, has awarded £120,000 to specialist organisations that work to support young people at risk of domestic abuse and children who are affected by it.
The emergency funding package, launched last month, was designed to help children and families throughout the whole force area, especially during a time of heightened exposure to abuse while isolating and not attending school.
By providing money to cover counselling services, education programmes, helplines and intervention services, the Commissioner wants to ensure young people do not become the forgotten victims of domestic abuse as the Coronavirus pandemic continues.
Organisations that have been successful with their bids for funding to provide these services include Children North East, Streetwise Young People’s Project and West End Women and Girls.
It is hoped that this Home Office funding will help keep vital projects going and help support groups in finding innovative new ways of remotely reaching young people at risk by using social media and new digital technologies.
Kim said: “It’s essential that every child, and every family can access support. There are teenagers who are perhaps in their first relationships, without a clear idea of what healthy, normal, acceptable behaviour looks like. There are young children who are scared and frightened. You can try and protect them but they can hear stuff downstairs, some even try to stop it themselves. They can be left traumatised by the raised voices and violence that happens in what should be their safe place, their home. We need to reach them all. They’re all victims too.”
The Commissioner explained that that 1 in 5 children are believed to experience domestic abuse, with this number expected to be even greater during lockdown.
She continued: “This problem impacts a worrying number of children and the pandemic and its restrictions has led to little or no respite for those suffering. This is why we need sufficient support to be on hand when things hit crisis point and also to help prevent it happening in the first place. We also need to be prepared for supporting children who have experienced abuse, as they return to school.
“Charities, community groups and victims services have all been hit so hard, facing the many challenges of lockdown with little or no additional support. I hope this funding helps some of our excellent services continue their vital work.”
A full list of successful bids and the services they are providing can be found here.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can report an incident by ringing 101 or visiting www.northumbria.pnn.police.uk. Also in a non-emergency situation you can text the police on 07786 200814.
In an emergency, always call 999. If you dial 999 and are unable to speak, the emergency operator will ask you to dial 55 and to follow their instruction to quickly put you in touch with police.
Help is also available From Victims First Northumbria, who can be found at www.victimsfirstnorthumbria.org.uk or on 0800 011 3116.
More information on the fund can be found at www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk/police-crime-plan/commissioning-services-grants/
