As the restrictions of lockdown start to ease and it seems like life is slowly beginning to return to some sort of normality, the pain and devastation that the coronavirus has left behind still remains for children and families harmed by crime.
Unfortunately many young victims of crime have been even more disadvantaged throughout the pandemic. Many already lived in cash-strapped homes – many more have been facing severe financial problems since the lockdown measures were enforced.
The trauma of coronavirus on disadvantaged children has been devastating. Embrace has been receiving referrals from survivors of domestic violence who desperately need support – imagine living, eating and sleeping in a one room refuge with no money, no entertainment, no outdoor space with just basic facilities, now imagine that with 3 children.
That’s why we’re raising vital funds to help support those families most in need. Our COVID crisis appeal ‘AlLFIE’S HARDSHIP FUND’ was launched back in March to provide practical and emotional support to children who have been harmed by crime and who are living in households where there is little or no income as a result of Covid-19 measures.
Our Family Support Packages are aimed at providing some relief for these families. Each package is tailored to the needs of the family and the number of children. Items are centred around the three ‘Es’ – Essentials, Educational and Entertainment, and they include supermarket vouchers, educational items to aid home schooling as well as toys and activities for lockdown amusement. We also provide the means for a young person to receive emotional support if it is needed.
To help raise funds we have been selected to participate in Champions for Children – a match funding campaign launched by the Childhood Trust to help raise unrestricted funds for charities who are working with children whose lives have been impacted by the pandemic.
Chief executive Anne Campbell said: “As a ‘Champion for Children’, Embrace is delighted to be taking part in this Summer’s campaign which sees all online donations doubled for just one week only.”
We know that so many children have suffered during lockdown because they live in households where domestic violence and sexual abuse is all too common.
This is a great opportunity to help us provide more of our specialist services and support some of the most vulnerable children in the country.”
From 12:00 PM, on Tuesday 23 June your donations to our COVID crisis appeal will be generously doubled for one week only, so if you’re thinking of making a donation this summer there’s no better time!
Donations made to our project via theBigGive.org.uk will be doubled during the campaign.
If you would like to support our work this year, we highly recommend doing so during the Champions for Children Campaign when your donation will worth twice its original value.
Please if you can help us to support the most vulnerable children and families during these uncertain times.
For more information please visit: https://embracecvoc.org.uk/champions-for-children/
