Halifax group awarded £18k to help children living with domestic violence

EdShift, in Horton Street, is celebrating after being awarded almost £18k in funding, which will support their work with children will specialised support sessions, who are living with domestic violence.

The funding comes from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, and will also fund staffing costs of a SpotLight Practitioner to deliver sessions.

Elspeth Brook, EdShift’s CEO, said: “We’re delighted that local and national funders have recognised our work in this way.

"Now, thanks them, funding will ensure that children in Calderdale are equipped with the aspiration and resilience to overcome adverse childhood experiences, giving them the opportunity to lead meaningful and healthy lives.

"This will make a significant and lasting impact within our community, increasing provision and widening positive outcomes for all residents in Calderdale."

Since the pandemic, EdShift have developed SpotLight in direct response to the deaths of two children due to domestic violence during lockdown.

Funding means children affected by domestic violence can now receive five weeks of one-on-one support in schools across Calderdale.

Children are provided with a safe space to make sense of their feelings through creative exercises and digital resources to help them understand that they are not to blame for what is happening at home.

Their aim is to equip children with vital safety skills and positive coping strategies, so they gain greater resilience and empowerment.

Children will also receive a SpotLight bag, where they can keep their worry buddy, stress ball, SpotLight Handbook, colour therapy sheets and arts resources.

The Community Foundation for Calderdale, which works with local communities to inspire and encourage projects that they want to see, to make their neighborhoods happier, healthier and safer places has funded the costs of SpotLight’s posters and leaflets.

Funds will also contribute to the staffing costs of a project coordinator, ensuring any risk to the child is managed effectively and information is shared across multiple agencies.

Funds sourced from Comic Relief enabled EdShift to adapt their website and Tesco bags of help funding contributed to the design of the unique SpotLight Handbook, which children

work through over their five sessions.

Sharon Bird, HR Director at EdShift, said: “Funding means EdShift can play a key role in ensuring those mostly severely affected by the pandemic have the necessary support to heal and recover."

EdShift has been running since 2019 and is staffed by five volunteer directors. It was founded by Elspeth Brook to ‘break the cycle of violence’ by providing drama based healthy relationship programmes in schools.