A FAMILY support charity and refuge in a town has been awarded over £41,000 from Children in Need to support young people.

Family Help Darlington CIO, known for its refuge, been awarded with a three-year grant of £41,830 to deliver activities and support sessions for children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse.

The project will provide crucial support which will help to improve confidence and self-esteem, enable the young people to develop coping mechanisms, encourage positive relationships and raise their aspirations for the future.

The BBC Children in Need funding will support the delivery of vital services to young people in the area and means the charity now has more than £1million invested across Tees Valley.

Darlington Family Help chief executive Carole Clarkson said: "This grant will enable us to employ two part time staff, who have the knowledge, skills and qualifications to support children and young people of all ages who are residing in the refuge with their mothers"

The charity supports approximately 100 children annually.

Ms Clarkson, who says without this "essential funding" the refuge would not be able to employ children’s support workers, added: "Throughout this project, the workers will provide interventions that support children and young people who have witnessed or have been subjected to domestic abuse; our staff will support and help them to start the process of recovery from the emotional and psychological effects of the trauma they have experienced.

"This support will enable them to move on in their lives to become independent, confident children and young people."

Children and young people involved in the project will also be encouraged to feel ownership as they will contribute to its development.

Elizabeth Myers, Regional Head of the North and South of England at BBC Children in Need said: “We’re delighted to have awarded Family Help Darlington with this funding, which demonstrates how our grants make a positive difference to children and young people’s lives.”

Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need, said: “During these exceptional times I am delighted to be awarding funding which will positively impact young lives when they need it most. An enormous thank you must go to our incredible supporters, without whom these grants simply wouldn’t be possible.”

In addition, Children in Need has also launched two dedicated Covid-19 Response Programmes, following The Big Night In appeal in April which brought the charity together with Comic Relief.

These new grants have been developed in response to the current crisis to support local charities and organisations across the UK who are providing essential help to children and young people.