Bury St Edmunds based Ant Group are focusing their efforts on fundraising for Suffolk based charity Fresh Start new beginnings throughout 2022 beginning with a Pancake Breakfast to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.
Fresh Start new beginnings supports children across Suffolk and Norfolk with a therapeutic treatment service for children aged 0 to 18 that have been victims of sexual abuse.
Statistics show that 1 in 6 children suffer, mostly at the hands of people they trust and should be protecting them. FSnb are based in Ipswich but have several hubs across the county including one in Bury St Edmunds treating children in local areas that cannot travel.
Data from the NSPCC and Childline has shown a threefold increase in the number of childline counselling sessions about child sexual abuse within the family since restrictions were imposed on 23 March 2020. (Source: The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on child welfare: sexual abuse) . It is happening every minute of every hour of every day…
Supporting over 200 children a year and with a waiting list of 50+, the list of children needing help is ever growing. There are over 15,000 children in Suffolk in need of support and over 17,000 in Norfolk. Support from companies and individuals to fundraise and grow is invaluable for them to be there for each young person that needs them.
Vital work
Sandra Lucas from Fresh Start New Beginnings said “Our young people are incredibly brave, and at a time when they should be enjoying the freedom of childhood, they are fighting a battle against the trauma inflicted on them.”
John Hensley, CEO of Ant Group, said ‘There is no doubt that multiple lockdowns over the last two years have been far more challenging for some than for others and with donations across the charitable sector falling off a cliff during the pandemic. Any support we can give is needed more than ever.’
Sandra added “Our aim is to provide hope and build confidence with the children and young adults opening a door to a new pathway to rebuild their lives”
It takes an incredibly brave child to walk through the doors for their first session. They are withdrawn, scared, and broken. This is where the specialist work takes place, on average it takes between 10 – 20 sessions to enable the young people piece themselves back together, make sense of the trauma that’s happened to them and equip them with coping skills for the rest of their lives.
“We already have some fantastic support from local companies and individual donors and are delighted to be chosen as the Charity of The Year by Antistat in Bury St Edmunds. The awareness created by businesses and their fundraising events is invaluable to us and the children we support, and we look forward to working alongside them this year with their fundraising events.”
Events
Ant Group are planning many more of their own fundraising events for the year including cake sales, lunchtime walks as well as entering a team in the FSnb’s Dragonboat Race.
FSnb have their own fantastic fundraising events throughout the year. You can get involved and enter a team in the superb Dragonboat Race on the Waterfront in June or enter their Big Quiz.
For more information on upcoming events, how to donate or becoming a volunteer please visit www.fsnb.org.uk or contact 01473 705111.
