Wiltshire
Children and Young People, Grants to charities
Doubling support for children affected by Domestic Abuse in Swindon
Specialist support for children and young people living with the devastating effects of domestic abuse in Swindon is set to be significantly expanded, thanks to a remarkable £60,000 donation from Wiltshire Freemasons. The funds, granted through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity), will allow Society Without Abuse (SWA) to employ a dedicated outreach worker for two years, doubling the number of children they can support.
The initiative will focus on children aged five to eighteen, providing one-to-one trauma-informed support across schools and community settings. The aim is to help young people heal from the psychological harm caused by witnessing or experiencing domestic abuse and to give them the tools to build healthy, hopeful futures.
Children don’t have to be the direct target of abuse to be its victims. Living in a home where abuse occurs can be deeply traumatic, affecting each child differently and leaving them vulnerable to anxiety, difficulties in expressing emotions, and longer-term challenges if they don’t receive help.
The new specialist outreach worker, Lilly James, will join SWA’s HOPE team, which already works closely with schools, social services, and families to provide holistic support. The team focuses on boosting children’s self-esteem, teaching them about healthy relationships, and equipping them with vital coping strategies to navigate life after trauma.
Schools are telling us that the support we provide is having a transformational effect. When we help children recover early, we can positively impact every part of their lives – their education, relationships, and well-being. This generous donation will enable us to double the number of children we reach, which will have a massive impact on the futures of young people in our community.
Wiltshire Freemasons have supported SWA since it began 50 years ago with Jenni Manners founding Swindon Women’s Aid. Children affected by abuse in the home are often the unheard victims, and this grant will help ensure their voices are finally heard.
