£60,000 donation to help children affected by domestic abuse

More children affected by domestic abuse will receive Society Without Abuse support thanks to Wiltshire Freemasons.

Specialist and dedicated support for children and young people affected by domestic abuse in Swindon is set to double thanks to a generous donation to Society Without Abuse (SWA) from Wiltshire Freemasons.

A £60,000 donation has been made possible through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is committed to funding programmes that support children affected by domestic abuse.

The money will be used to fund a dedicated specialist outreach worker for two years who will work directly with children aged 5 to 18, offering one-to-one trauma-informed support across schools and community settings. This initiative is designed to help children recover from the psychological impact of domestic abuse and reduce the long-term damage it causes.

Kate Rowland, CEO at SWA, said: “Children don’t have to be the direct target of abuse to be its victims. Living in a home where domestic abuse is present can be deeply traumatic.

“The impact on every child is different, but this can result in anxiety, challenges with expressing emotions, and can have a long-lasting impact when children are not given the support and tools to recover. This support is about early intervention and so healing young lives and giving them the opportunity to thrive.”

The specialist outreach role will allow SWA to double the support they currently provide, with Lilly James joining the HOPE team. The HOPE team works closely with schools, children’s services, social workers and self-referrals in a whole-family approach to bring an end to domestic abuse and the damage it causes.  Children are supported through working on their self-esteem, learning about healthy relationships and equipping them with coping strategies. 

Katie said: “Schools are telling us that the support we provide through HOPE Outreach is having a transformational effect on young people. The damage children suffer as a result of experiencing domestic abuse can manifest itself in school, the community and their relationships, and so by helping them recover early, we can impact every aspect of their lives and future. 

“This generous donation from Wiltshire Freemason will enable us to double the number of children we support, which will have a massive impact on the futures of young people in our community.”

John Reid, Head of Freemasonry in Wiltshire, said: “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.”

To find out more about SWA and HOPE Outreach for children, visit www.societywithoutabuse.org.uk/

If you need advice for yourself or a friend relating to Domestic Abuse, call Swindon’s domestic abuse helpline on 01793 610610.