The Splitz support service, a charity working with children who have experienced domestic abuse in the Trowbridge, Westbury and Melksham areas of Wiltshire, has been given a £36,313 grant by the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
The grant, which has been funded by Freemasons in England and Wales, will fund two skilled practitioners who will work with 70 local children and young people between the ages of 9 – 16, who have experienced domestic abuse, which can range from physical or sexual assault through to various forms of bullying and neglect.
The charity reports that the estimated cost of domestic abuse in Wiltshire is to be £20 million a year, while the estimated number of incidents annually was 3,085.
Child victims of domestic abuse can have long-term reactions to abuse, including anxiety, sleeplessness, nightmares, aggression and other problems, both physical, behavioural and emotional. They will often have difficulties in relationships and in employment later in life.
Fran Lewis MBE Splitz Executive Director said, “Domestic abuse in the family has a damaging effect on children who live in an atmosphere of tension, fear and anxiety. With this considerable funding from the Freemasons, we will enable children to learn that they are not responsible for someone else’s behaviour and to recover from the trauma that is domestic abuse.”
Philip Bullock, Head of Wiltshire Freemasons said,
“We are very pleased to be able to support Splitz’s valuable work with young people in our community. Helping these children now will give them a real chance of a better life in the future.”
