No child should feel alone. Making a difference OUR IMPACT IN THE EAST OF ENGLAND 2017/18

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1 No child should feel alone Making a difference OUR IMPACT IN THE EAST OF ENGLAND 2017/18

2 We believe no child should feel alone. Each time I meet the young people we work with, I am struck by their incredible personal journeys. Their strength and resilience inspires us all to be ambitious about the change we make not only for individuals, but also for the world around them. I am proud that over the past year The Children s Society has supported so many young people to overcome challenges in their lives. This vital support comes both through our direct work and through our campaigning, where we can help improve the lives of young people we may never meet. Measuring and demonstrating the impact of the breadth of our work is difficult, but it s critically important to understand where change has occurred and our contribution, so that we can tenaciously strive to do the very best we can for children and young people. Our 2018 Regional Impact Reports aim to offer an honest account of the difference we are making in young people s lives. We believe that no child should feel alone, and this is why we are relentless in our desire to learn more about how we can make a difference in the lives of those who need us most. Many thanks, Matthew Reed Chief Executive The Children s Society 2

3 Services 2017/18 Our All Age Recovery Co-ordination Service in partnership with Open Road supported children, young people and families affected by substance misuse. Our FIF Parenting and Safe in Essex projects provided early help and support to young people and their families affected by a range of issues, such as running away, bullying, e-safety and unhealthy relationships. Our CARE service supported young people at risk of and involved in CSE. Our CHHAT service supported young carers affected by parental substance misuse. New services 2018 Inside out provided an intensive coaching support model to promote resilience and placement stability for young people in residential care across Essex, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. 3

4 Campaigning work The Debt Trap Problem debt leaves families and young people feeling stressed, anxious and depressed. Children living in families struggling with debt are five times more likely to be unhappy than children in families who don t have difficulty with debt. We ve been campaigning to end the Debt Trap for families since May In that time, we have tackled many of the biggest issues for families in debt, including: n Payday loan advertising on children s TV. n Energy companies and their debt collection practices. n Local councils and their use of bailiffs in homes of children and vulnerable young people. In 2017/18 we won a commitment from Government to introduce a Breathing Space for families in problem debt to the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill. The introduction of this measure will give families time and space to repay their debts with no rising fees or visits from intimidating bailiffs, helping 530,000 young people. Locally, in February 2018 we persuaded Thurrock Council to exempt care leavers from council tax, benefitting approximately 240 young people every year. Thurrock Council agreed to exempt care leavers from council tax, benefitting approximately 240 young people every year. 4

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6 Spotlight Our Substance Misuse Services in Essex Our Substance Misuse work in Essex is part of an All Age Recovery Co-ordination Service for young people, adults and families, provided in partnership with Open Road. Our practitioners support young people up to the age of 24 on a one-to-one basis and through targeted groups. We work with them in a range of ways to provide: n Information, advice and education Comprehensive n assessment and goal-based planning n Harm reduction n Relapse prevention n Sexual health services n Access to positive activities n Needle and syringe exchange n Structured recovery programmes n Family provision and peer support n Community resolutions 86% of the young people we worked with reduced or ceased their substance misuse (compared to an average of 82% nationally across similar services). 35% completely stopped using substances, and 51% reduced their intake to safe levels. 6

7 Very friendly and approachable. Made me feel comfortable and able to talk about my issues if I needed to. Young person 7

8 Key results 73% of children and young people said their lives improved overall. 93% of children and young people satisfied with services. We worked with 1,798 children and young people. 3,580 children and young people reached via preventative work. 8

9 Needs in the area 297,468 number of children in poverty. 1,917 number of assessments of children in need due to concerns about sexual exploitation. 87,969 approximate number of children with a diagnosable mental health condition. 33,321 number of children classified as children in need. 3,167 number of incidents reported to police of children going missing. 5,520 number of care leavers under 25. 9

10 Demographics 4% 3% 3% 1% 89% 39% are female* Asian or Asian British Black or Black British Mixed Heritage Other ethnicities White and White British 21% 1% 61% are male* 78% *0.1% of the referral forms we received indicate the young person identifies as neither male nor female 10 Aged 9 or under Aged 10 to 18 Aged 19 to 24

11 Olivia When I first learned that my then 15-year-old daughter was taking illicit drugs, I felt as if my whole world had fallen apart. I felt I d failed as a parent. I immediately sought help and after a number of dead ends, I stumbled across The Children s Society. Within the week, I was visited by two members of The Children s Society and, a few weeks later, I attended my first meeting, where I learned of others journeys of drug addiction with their children. The support from the group was second to none and the information shared by the group leaders was both in-depth and delivered in an entertaining way so all was not doom and gloom even though we were all dealing with lots of problems. My daughter had two years of counselling with a dedicated drugs counsellor and is now completely drug free, but realises she has an addiction problem and recognises the need to be vigilant. So, thank you to all at The Children s Society you saved our family and my health and sanity. 11

12 Right now in Britain there are children and young people who feel scared, unloved and unable to cope. The Children s Society works with these young people, step by step, for as long as it takes. We listen. We support. We act. There are no simple answers so we work with others to tackle complex problems. Only together can we make a difference to the lives of children now and in the future. Because no child should feel alone. Find out more at childrenssociety.org.uk Contact us Gary Thomas: Area Director t: e: gary.thomas@childrenssociety.org.uk Tim Cooper: Business Development t: e: timothy.cooper@childrenssociety.org.uk Or to donate to support our work please contact: Emily Timmins: Regional Relationship Manager t: The Children s Society The copyright of all material appearing in this publication belongs to The Children s Society. It may not be reproduced, duplicated or copied by any means without our prior written consent. All photographs posed by models. Laura McCluskey, Stella Scott. Charity Registration No AI002b/1118