No child should feel alone. Making a difference OUR IMPACT IN YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER 2017/18

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1 No child should feel alone Making a difference OUR IMPACT IN YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER 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 Hand in Hand Bradford and Hand in Hand Yorkshire supported young people at risk of sexual exploitation. Family Food Together worked with families in Bradford to budget for and cook healthy meals. Our HEARTS service in Leeds supported young refugees and migrants. HEARTS BBO (an extension of the HEARTS service) supported young people into education, training and employment. New services 2018 Leeds Migrant Matters provided emergency and intensive support for young migrants aged living in Leeds. 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 September 2017 we persuaded Rotherham Council to exempt care leavers from council tax, benefitting approximately 270 young people every year. North East Lincolnshire followed suit in December 2017, benefitting approximately 110 care leavers. 4

5 Breathing Space for families in problem debt helped 530,000 young people. Rotherham Council agreed to exempt care leavers from council tax, benefitting approximately 270 young people every year. North East Lincolnshire followed suit in December 2017, benefitting approximately 110 care leavers. 5

6 Spotlight Our HEARTS service The Our HEARTS (Help Each Asylum seeker and Refugee To Settle) service works with young migrants across Leeds who are isolated, not in education, employment or training and who are suffering the mental health consequences of trauma, bereavement and loss. It helps young people to access their rights and entitlements, and promote their integration. After working with us: 100% of young people said they now had more friends. 94% said their education, training or employment had improved. 82% said they now had more hopes and dreams. 63% said their mental health had improved. 6

7 (My worker has been) listening to me and helping me. Young person 7

8 Key results 89% of children and young people said that their lives improved after working with us. 76 drop-ins and awareness raising sessions delivered to newly-arrived asylum seeking families and young people at the Wakefield Induction Centre. 54 families We worked secured with regular income under Section 17 following intensive 238 casework. children and young people. 60 families secured immigration 533advice children from solicitors. and young people reached via preventative work. 8

9 Needs in the area 338,098 number of children in poverty. 1,619 number of assessments of children in need due to concerns about sexual exploitation. 76,997 approximate number of children with a diagnosable mental health condition. 40,208 number of children classified as children in need. 15,094 number of incidents reported to police of children going missing. 4,300 number of care leavers under 25. 9

10 Demographics 39% 31% 51% are female 10% 2% Asian or Asian British Black or Black British Mixed Heritage Other ethnicities White and White British 17% 15% 17% 49% are male 68% Aged 9 or under Aged 10 to 18 Aged 19 to 24 10

11 Natalie Natalie was sexually abused by her stepdad from the age of four. Eventually he was put in prison, but when he was released, Natalie s mum chose to take him back, leaving Natalie and her siblings in foster care. Natalie struggled to understand her mother s way of thinking. Her older sister found it too difficult to cope and took her own life when Natalie was nine. When Natalie was at her most vulnerable, she met an older man who groomed her. The relationship turned abusive and he forced Natalie to do drug deals for him and have sex to pay off his debts. Natalie was homeless when she was referred to The Children s Society and met her project worker, Kelly. They started meeting regularly, and Kelly gradually built up trust with Natalie. She and began to explore her past experiences and understand her addiction. Natalie is now 25 and regularly attends one-to-one sessions with Kelly to recover from her years of trauma. Natalie writes poems about her experiences, and in the future hopes to talk about her journey to support her rehabilitation and inspire others. By the age of 15, I had been in 47 placements. How are you expected to trust people when you re passed around and no one takes the time to talk to you? I was lonely, I was scared. Going home to an empty flat, with no friends, no support, no anything, was too much. 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 Rob Jackson: Area Director t: e: rob.jackson@childrenssociety.org.uk Rob Dickinson: Business Development t: e: rob.dickinson@childrenssociety.org.uk Or to donate to support our work please contact: Regional Relationship Managers Joanne Nicholson: Helen Whiteley: 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 AI002c/1118