Vulnerable children ‘ need help after conflicts rise in lockdown’
VULNERABLE CHILDREN in some of the most disadvantaged communities in Leeds need help now more than ever after a rise in domestic violence and drug use during lockdown, according to a charity project manager.
The Beck Project, which works to support children’s emotional and mental health, said relationship difficulties have been highlighted during the coronavirus pandemic.
It is part of Leeds- based charity GIPSIL ( Gipton Supported Independent Living) – based at The Old Fire Station on Gipton Approach – which has been supporting young people, adults and families for more than 20 years.
The Beck Project, which helps children aged four to 18 in Leeds primary and secondary schools, focuses on their emotional and mental health and provides counselling, well being support, group work and family mediation. The project’s Children in Need funded Young Person’s Mediation Service supports young people and their parents or carers where they are struggling with conflict at home.
Becky Jones, wellbeing manager at the Beck Project, said: “We are providing online and face to face mediation sessions to look at practical ways of improving relationships.
“The need for the service has increased following lockdown as difficulties within relationships have been highlighted, arguments have increased and issues such as domestic violence and substance use have escalated.
“Mediation provides a safe and non- judgmental space to work through relationship difficulties.
“After completing mediation sessions one mum recently said: ‘ If it wasn’t for this, we’d have had nowhere to go.’
“And a young person said: ‘ I learnt that my dad actually did want to spend time with me, I thought he was all talk.’”
GIPSIL and the Beck Project work alongside a range of partners, including NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group ( CCG).
Health chiefs at the CCG have published what has been described as one of their most “innovative and dynamic” plans to tackle the issue of health inequality in Leeds once and for all and help close the gap in health outcomes between rich and poor.