Supporting families in Sunderland
Two Sunderland charities set up to help families cope with traumatic domestic situations have received grants totalling almost £130,000 from the Northern Rock Foundation.
Silksworth not-for-profit organisation, Sunderland Area Parent Support, was established in 2007 to help the families and friends of people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions, by providing practical advice along with emotional support. The £65,000 grant it received from the Foundation, in its latest round of awards to charities and good causes throughout the region, will help to fund a Project Manager for the next three years.
In addition, Northern Rock Foundation awarded £64,603 to a charity, which supports families through emotionally difficult situations such as divorce, domestic violence and abuse. Impact Family Services, at West Sunniside, is a not-for-profit organisation – the grant from the Foundation will fund its work in child contact centres with mothers who have experienced domestic abuse.
The grants were among 15, totalling more than £1m, given by the Northern Rock Foundation to charitable organisations in its latest round of awards. Penny Wilkinson, Chief Executive of the Foundation, said: “Having a family member with a drug or alcohol addiction can place an enormous strain on the rest of the family, with grandparents and also mothers in particular often bearing the brunt of chaotic and sometimes violent behaviour. SAPS is a front-line organisation with carers and their families at the heart of what they do. We have supported the organisation since 2008 and helped it to grow and develop. We are also very aware of the emotional damage domestic abuse can cause to families and have been very impressed by the work Impact has undertaken to reach and support families who might otherwise fall through the cracks.”
For press information contact Hilary Florek 0191 285 7100 or 07831 552624 email hilary@hilaryflorekpr.co.uk