Manchester Women’s Aid celebrates its 50th anniversary this year by fundraising for new play areas in our family refuges. We want to bring joy to women and children impacted by domestic abuse by giving them the play area they deserve and by creating new opportunities for joyful moments together.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
64% of women have children when they enter our refuges. Children are affected physically, emotionally, and socially by experiencing domestic abuse. 25% of children exhibit abusive behaviour most frequently towards their mother. Their behaviour elsewhere may also be impacted - ‘acting out’ or getting into trouble at school. Our therapeutic workers use child-led play to allow them to communicate freely about their experiences, wishes, and feelings, to help them heal from trauma.
Solution
We will build play areas in our family refuges to give women and their children an outdoor space they can enjoy together. This will build trust between mother and child and reassure them that their new life will be filled with joyful memories. The play areas will enhance the support our children receive as it gives them a welcoming environment and equipment to use in therapeutic sessions. This will allow women and their children to heal from their trauma and begin their new life.
