Rotherham families escaping domestic abuse will receive specialist support thanks to grant to Hopian
As many as 150 children and young people from across Rotherham affected by domestic abuse will receive specialist help and support thanks to a grant to the Hopian charity.
The £59,000 grant over three years will support the charity’s refuge accommodation services, providing accommodation for up to 20 young people and family groups and frequently supporting more than 25 children at any given time. The project helps families begin safe, independent lives by supporting their time in refuge and their move to permanent housing through providing tailored support. They coordinate health, education, trauma-informed support, counselling, play activities, and confidence-building tailored to each family member’s needs after trauma.
The grant from Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons will specifically help Hopian provide support for children and young people affected by domestic abuse in refuge accommodation. It will also enable the charity to assist families as they move from the refuge, a time that can be stressful and uncertain. This project reinforces Hopian’s commitment to making sure that anyone affected by domestic abuse knows they are not alone and can access support and guidance.
It is estimated that around one in five children in the UK have lived in a home where there was domestic abuse, and approximately one in five adults will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. This includes one in four women and one in six-seven men. Hopian, in the last year alone, has supported over 3,000 individuals and families affected by Domestic Abuse.
The impact of domestic abuse should never be underestimated; all forms of abuse are devastating and often occur simultaneously, including physical, emotional, coercive, financial, and sexual abuse. For many individuals, domestic abuse undermines their identity, and often, individuals are left with no self-confidence or self-worth. Hopian supports individuals and families to help them rebuild their lives and restore something essential: hope, and to believe that they and their children deserve healthy relationships.
We appreciate the grant provided by Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons. Domestic abuse is often a hidden problem because people still find it hard to discuss. This grant will not only provide funding towards our vital services, but it also presents another chance to highlight that domestic abuse is happening within our communities. Thanks to the Freemasons we can increase awareness so that someone may realise they are not alone, that support is available, and that there is hope for a future free from fear.
I am really pleased we have been able to help Hopian with their hugely important project helping children and families affected by domestic abuse. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our community and I am proud that Freemasons are helping them to escape to a safer future.
