£2m grant to be split between projects tackling abuse of vulnerable youngsters

By The Press Association28th December 2016News EnglandBusiness / Funding / Finance, Child Protection, Domestic Abuse / Violence, Female Genital Mutilation, Finance, News England

More than £2 million is to be shared between projects which are trying to help children who may face domestic violence, female genital mutilation and radicalisation.

The Department of Education said its 2016-2018 grant would be split between nine grassroots projects aimed at tackling the abuse of vulnerable youngsters.

Education Secretary Justine Greening (pictured) hoped the projects which work with children, young people and their families, schools, communities and social care professionals would “make a real difference”.

The battle to try and help girls facing female genital mutilation (FGM) was to get a boost as the Midaye Somali Development Network, which largely works in London, was to receive backing. The Foundation for Women’s Health Research Development (FORWARD), which works with schools and key professionals in Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol to try and prevent FGM and forced marriages, was also to get a grant.

Street Teams in Walsall, Victim Support in Lancashire, Sheffield Futures, Home Start UK in Shepway, Kent, The Church of England Children’s Society in Dorset were receiving backing.

While Kidscape and Tavistock Relationships, who work in London, were also to get backing.

Ms Greening said: “This funding will help us to support families that have experienced domestic violence, as well as helping to prevent abuse occurring in future.

“It’s people working with the most vulnerable in our society on the ground who are often best placed to trial new approaches to keeping them safe, and these nine projects can make a real difference.”

Peter Bradley of Kidscape said: “Our Extremism and Radicalisation Awareness programme builds upon our current safeguarding work in educational settings.

“We’re passionate about children’s safety and have been concerned for some time about young people who may be vulnerable to extremist ideologies.

“This new project will mean we are able to safeguard those young people who previously had little or no support.”

The Children’s Society chief operating officer Val Floy said the organisation was “delighted” by the windfall which would be used to support children living in families hit by substance misuse and domestic violence.