Vital Barnardo’s services which help more than 300,000 vulnerable children will get a £1,027,745 injection thanks to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
The money raised by players of October’s draw, will help fund the charity’s crucial mental health, care leaver and child sexual exploitation services in England, Wales and Scotland.
Louise Parkes, Corporate Director of Income and Innovation at Barnardo’s, said:
This fantastic cash boost raised by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery is going to change the lives of many children for the better.
It will help us continue to help children and young people to recover from the traumas and difficulties of their pasts and build positive, happy futures.
We are so grateful to everyone who took part for helping us to support the amazing young people we work with across the UK. On behalf of all of us at Barnardo’s, thank you so much.
Hazel Johnstone, from the charities team at People’s Postcode Lottery, welcomed the partnership. She said:
I’m delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are now supporting Barnardo’s.
This funding will have such a life changing impact for thousands of vulnerable children in Great Britain.
There is a vast need for more services to support children with their mental health, preparing young care leavers and ensuring those that have been sexually exploited get the recovery and support that they need to move forward with their lives.
The money will help young care leavers like James*, who struggled with anger management issues and became involved with anti-social behaviour. It was only when he moved into semi-independent accommodation run by Barnardo’s aged 17, where he learnt about cooking, cleaning and budgeting, that he feels his life started to change for the better.
Now 20, he said:
Barnardo’s gave me a place to find my feet and start to realise who I am. The staff respected me as a person and I didn’t feel like I was being punished anymore. I knew they’d fight my corner and would always be there for me.
Some children and young people supported by the charity have been sexually abused or exploited. Aged 14, Ruby* was referred to Barnardo’s after self-harming and thinking about taking her own life as a result of being involved in manipulative and abusive relationships.
Ruby said:
A Barnardo’s project worker helped me to work through my past. The sessions became a lifeline. Their support has allowed me to move on to a new chapter of my life.
