More children affected by abuse to receive support

Swindon's domestic abuse charity is set to nearly double its children's services.

Society Without Abuse has received a £60,000 donation from Wiltshire Freemasons.

The money will be used to fund a dedicated specialist outreach worker who will work directly with children aged 5 to 18.

CEO Kate Rowland told Greatest Hits Radio: “We have our outreach workers who run groups to support children with their recovery from domestic abuse.

So, last year the team supported between 50 and 60 children, and hopefully this year we'll be able to do even more.

We would be hoping to be supporting nearer to 100 children over the next year with being able to increase our groups and our and our one-to-one support.”

The extra role will increase the capacities of the HOPE team which works closely with schools, children’s services, social workers and self-referrals.

The programme supports children through improving their self-esteem as well as teaching them about healthy relationships and coping strategies.

“Between one in five and one in seven children will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime”, continued Ms Rowland.

“And we know that domestic abuse – even if it's very, very young children who are experiencing it, who you might think don't understand or don't remember – can still have a lasting impact on that young person.

“It can impact their emotional well-being, their mental health, their self-confidence, their feeling of safety, their understanding of their own relationships and how to form healthy relationships themselves. So, it has a really huge impact.

“They're have been children waiting for us to be able to support them. So, it's fantastic we can get to them sooner now.”

John Reid, Head of Freemasonry in Wiltshire, added: “Wiltshire Freemasons have been active supporters of SWA since its beginnings 50 years ago with Jenni Manners setting up Swindon Women’s Aid and opening the first refuge. Children affected by abuse in the home are often the unheard victims and this grant will enable their voices to be heard.”

At the moment, a child can be on the waitlist for several months before it can receive the one-to-one support it needs.

However, the charity is hoping that this can be brought down “quite dramatically” soon, thanks to the extra member of staff.

Group sessions are easier to get into, with new opening usually becoming available at the start of every term.

Links to help

If you’re affected by issues raised in this article, you can call Society Without Abuse’s helpline on 01793 610610.

If you are in immediate danger, always call 999.