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charity registration number: 221124

What we do:

At The Childrens Society we dont believe its enough to just help one child. We want to change the world children live in.

Children talk to us about their lives. They tell us about life in prison, on the streets, out of school. And about poverty, violence, neglect and abuse.

We provide services for them. We listen to them. And, armed with their experiences, we challenge the injustices that they face by speaking out with them.

That way, by helping one child, we can protect thousands more.

Thats how we change the world for children and young people.

The Childrens Society works in 90 projects across England.

Our work includes:

Young runaways - we reach out to those in crisis away from home and on the streets to reach out and help them rebuild their lives. Young offenders - we work with young people in trouble with the law including unconvicted children in prison. We strive to find alternatives to help them turn away from crime.Deprived communities - we give children a chance to contribute and change their communities by involving them in decisions to improve and enrich the world the world they live in.Schools - we work with children as young as four who are in trouble at school and risk exclusion. By finding the root causes of disruptive behaviour we help children to overcome their problems and support teachers and parents in finding alternatives to exclusion.

All of our work is only possible through your support and with your help we can reach out for a better future for children and young people across the country.

 

 

Ashtons story - school exclusion

Marys son had severe behaviour problems from an early age, until she got in touch with The Childrens Society.

"Ashton has always been a worry, ever since hes been very small. He seemed to have no sense of danger at all. He had a lot of energy as well as temper tantrums and was very boisterous.

"Even at nursery he had problems. Hed be abusive or hed hurt a child or smash things up. I used to tear my hair out because I didnt know what to do. I changed schools and the same problems happened all over again. No one could understand what has happening.

"He did get specialist help for six months, and it really made a difference, but it only lasted for six months and then the centre closed down and the service stopped.

"The experts said he was three years behind normal development. He started injuring himself and getting aggressive towards his sister. He was very abusive to me, destroying things in my home, biting, and drawing on the wall. He didnt want to comply in no way. He didnt want to do anything.

"I love my children so much, but I also felt so sorry for him, because I couldnt help him, I didnt know what was wrong with him.

"He was excluded around three to four times from his special needs school. By this time I thought I couldnt cope with his behaviour and work, so I had to give up work.

"Ashton was introduced to Gill at the The Childrens Societys SHINE project in September. He was 9. He was wary at first, but he had Gill to himself and he was able to talk to her and express his feelings. He could do what he wanted; he could lie down, play or paint, it was up to him. Being out of class helped build a lot of confidence.

"He was learning to cope with class situations, group situations, and he looked forward to it every week. When he reached the end of his programme with Gill - he was the one who said to me - `mummy I dont thing I need to see Gill any more`. Hed sorted it out. With the SHINE project he was able to cope and make that decision for himself. I felt really proud.

"Last Friday they had an assembly for children and he got a merit. All the time hes been at school hed never been a part of anything. His teacher said to me that she couldnt believe some of the work that hes now producing, she cant believe that this is the child who came to Trinity and wouldnt do anything at all. He can assert himself and not get so aggressive and handle situations.

"He joins in activities, hes always the first one to finish his work. If it wasnt for The Childrens Society hed be continuing on the same way down. Im proud that The Childrens Society has not only helped my son, but me as well."

 

 

Marks story - youth justice

At 15 year Mark was small for his age. He had been sexually abused as a child, had learning difficulties and had made several suicide attempts. Despite this when he became caught up with older boys and was arrested following a serious burglary, his local authority were unable to fund a place in a secure childrens home and the only alternative was prison while he awaited trial. In prison he was soon the target of bullying and abuse.

The Childrens Society offered him support and were able to find him a place in a remand fostering project with a family who helped him face up to the consequences of his crime for himself and his victims.