Children’s charity, Embrace Child Victims of Crime, has launched an initiative to help families facing financial crisis as a result of Covid-19.
Moved by the plight of children harmed by crime and now plunged into poverty as a result of the corona virus measures, Embrace has put together family packages consisting of the three ‘E’s – covering Essentials such as food vouchers, Educational – educational games and activities; and Entertainment, to include arts and craft sets, baking, Netflix subscriptions and X-Box/Playstation gift cards.
Embrace launched a public appeal in the name of their mascot Bear, Alfie, shortly after lockdown and is asking those who are able to donate to be generous as there are many thousands of children and families who now find themselves with little or no income.
Says Embrace CEO Anne Campbell pictured above:
“We recognise that there are now many more families living on the breadline with children having to stay at home – a double whammy for those who have already been suffering as a result of crime.
“We want to help them and have asked the public to make a donation to Alfie’s Hardship Fund so that we can bring some cheer into these households.”
The charity is already working with a number of police forces and Bedfordshire Police have been the first off the mark to work with Alfie’s Fund and create a ‘Wishlist’ of gifts for children who are now home schooling and needing.
Kathryn Holloway, Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, said:
“Embrace is always one of the first charities off the mark to help child victims of crime and now to help respond to the difficulties children are experiencing as a result of the pandemic. These support packages represent a fantastic initiative and Bedfordshire Police will help to identify those families in most need.
“Embrace has also volunteered to help to acquire and distribute activity materials to help support my YouTube sessions coming online from May to September so that children who are living away from home, as they have a parent escaping Domestic Abuse, can still join in. I’m incredibly grateful to them,” said Commissioner Holloway
Referrals into the hardship fund are made via the Embrace website and are encouraged from Police Family Liaison Officers, Victims and Witnesses Hubs and the Sexual Abuse Referral Centres.
Funds are being raised nationally and ring-fenced to be spent with families in the areas in which it has been raised.
For more information about Alfie’s Family Support Packages please visit: https://embracecvoc.org.uk/alfies-family-support-packages/
