Campaign launches to help children of domestic abuse

A north-east children’s charity has launched a new campaign to help raise awareness and funds to support families fleeing domestic abuse. 

AberNecessities says that people are being told to stay safe and stay home when home isn’t a safe place for many women and children. 

The charity seen a 175% increase in applications from families escaping  domestic abuse situations with nothing more than the clothes on their back.

No Child Should Go Without A Hero is calling on the community to step up and be a hero for a child by helping to provide families with the means to start afresh. Locals, businesses and supporters can donate directly to the appeal through the Just Giving page.

To support and empower families, AberNecessities is creating Fresh Start packs, filled with the essential items a child, young person and parent need to help them start over. 

Each child’s pack will be filled with new clothes, shoes, pyjamas, a teddy bear, games, activities and of course their favourite toy. Mum will be gifted new clothes, shoes, a hairdryer, brush, pyjamas, dressing down, slippers, hot water bottle and toiletries. Finally the family will receive the ‘Home comforts’package filled with non-perishable foods, snacks, story books, cosy blankets and fluffy towels. 

AberNecessities will continue to care for families via their dedicated referral system. In addition, the charity will be working closely with Grampian Women’s Aid to distribute the care packages to families, providing the support and means required to help while they seek refuge and emotional support. 

Danielle Flecher-Horn, founder of AberNecessities said: “It is an extremely sad but real fact that domestic abuse has risen since the national lockdown was imposed in the wake of Covid-19. It can be extremely difficult for a women to leave an abusive situation for a whole host of reasons.

“Sadly, one of those is often a lack of financial independence and a fear of being unable to support herself and her children, often resulting in the family staying or returning to the abusive relationship.

“We believe that through kindness, understanding and empowerment we can help some of the most vulnerable people across the North-East by ensuring they have access to support. While we cannot rewrite their story, we can make a new chapter possible.”

 Aileen from Grampian Women’s Aid said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with AberNeccessities for this important campaign which will provide women, children and young people with essential items needed when they flee a perpetrator of domestic abuse during these uncertain times. 

We have experienced significant demand for our support with referrals increasing steadily from June with average referrals of women seeking support at 50 per month peaking at 120 in September.

"As we retreat into our homes again during this second wave of restrictions, for women and children living with their abuser means spending extended periods of time confined at home with abuse."