The National Emergencies Trust

The ‘Bee The Difference’ report is a unique research project designed by and for young Manchester survivors in collaboration with UK disaster response charity, the National Emergencies Trust and researchers at Lancaster University.

More than 200 young survivors contributed to the research, all of whom were under 18 at the time of the attack. They share experiences of the support they have received since it happened to identify what help will be most beneficial to future young survivors.

HRH Prince William, The Prince of Wales, Royal Patron of the National Emergencies Trust, said:

“The nine young and incredible minds behind this project, and the many more who have contributed, are an inspiration – turning significant personal challenges into positive change.

This report makes clear that young people who have experienced the trauma of terrorism have needs unique to their age. These are minds that need the space to have their voices heard and feelings acknowledged.

We must listen to their stories now, in order to learn for the future. I look forward to seeing the change that it creates.”

HRH Prince William, The Prince of Wales

The report reveals that three quarters (75%) of children and young people affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena attack were psychologically injured by what happened to them. However, more than one in four (29%) have never received any professional support, with four in ten (40%) saying it was never offered to them.

In fact, while 93% of young survivors felt they needed support in the aftermath of the attack, 70% received no professional help within the first month and 31% received no professional help within the first year.

Their stories show that while some of the professional help offered by teachers, counsellors, GPs and others was incredibly valuable, some of it inadvertently introduced more trauma. Some young people felt their experiences were not validated by adults in positions of care, and that their feelings were dismissed on account of their age.

“The tutor told me that I should take the attack as a positive experience- that this ‘hardship’ would make me a stronger person. He said not many young people experience hardships nowadays. This felt totally insensitive so I didn’t return.”

“… when I asked for help they brushed me off and put it down to just teenage hormones. To then just put me on antidepressants and that was only at 18 and didn’t even think of referring me to a therapist.”

“I poured my heart out to this random GP who totally dismissed everything I expressed […] she said I was coping better than she would have been because I was 15 and in the two years it would have taken for her to get me into CAMHS I would then be 17 and probably feeling a lot better at that point.”

Conversely, the report points to some examples of incredible pastoral care in schools where individuals went above and beyond to support young survivors’ new needs. It also highlights the value of care provided by trauma-experienced individuals, including specialist trauma counsellors, as well as fellow survivors.

“My teacher was there for me when I needed to sit out of lessons or talk about what had affected me that day. It was good because she was there for another 2 years of my time at school so acted as a constant support that was semi-permanent rather than a specialist that I could only see once or twice.”

“For the first time I met other survivors, and there was a sort of subliminal understanding - I didn't even have to say what happened to me at Manchester, but I was still greeted with open arms into a new, wonderful, kind safe space, where I was listened to and accepted for who I was.”

The Bee The Difference report proposes six ways that individuals and institutions across the UK could improve outcomes for future young survivors of terror:

Bee visible - Ensure support is visible and readily available the onus is not on survivors to find it

Bee compassionate - Listen to, validate and take proactive steps to accommodate young survivors’ new needs

Bee experienced - Make sure that specialised trauma support is accessible and readily available, wherever survivors are based

Be flexible - Empower young survivors to choose the right support for them

Be patient - Remember that recovery isn’t linear and can take time

Be proactive - Act on young survivors’ experiences to turn their challenges into future change

Bee The Difference’s Lead Researcher, Dr Cath Hill, is a Lecturer in Social Work at Lancaster University, co-founder of the support group, Manchester Survivors’ Choir and a member of the National Emergencies Trust’s Survivors Forum.

Dr Hill said: “The findings show that the simple act of validating young people’s views can make a huge difference to their wellbeing, and is something all adults in positions of care could be more mindful of should the worst happen again. Equally, introducing the option of an official survivor status for children’s school or college records could prevent them from having to relive their trauma time and again. I hope individuals and organisations reflect on the findings and think about how they could create change.”

Mhairi Sharp, CEO, National Emergencies Trust, said: “There has been a glaring gap in knowledge about how UK disasters affect children and young people. Bee The Difference offers valuable direction for emergency funders like us and means we can build on the good work that the We Love Manchester fund started in 2017. We can raise awareness with our partners so that there is less onus on future survivors to seek out support. We can also offer funding to those who would like to set up peer support groups.”

The report reveals that young survivors’ recovery is not a linear process and can take many years. Six years after the attack almost one in four (22%) young Manchester survivors continue to receive psychological support today, according to the findings.

Young survivor and co-designer of the research project, Ellie Taylor said: “We never knew how challenging it would be trying to not only find the support but find help that wasn’t more damaging and triggering. This project has given me hope that young survivors will never feel ignored, invalidated, and disregarded ever again. I have met some of the most amazing people and together we are hoping to change history.”

In the coming months, the Bee The Difference project team aims to meet with representatives from government, education, healthcare and the charity sector to discuss ways to act on the research findings.

To download a copy of the Bee The Difference report, visit: https://nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk/beethedifference

1400 GROUPS PROVIDING WELLBEING SUPPORT HAVE RECEIVED NATIONAL EMERGENCIES TRUST FUNDING TO MEET SURGE IN DEMAND

The Trust’s Patron, the Duke of Cambridge, speaks to Scottish charities receiving funds

Over £80m raised through pledges, with more than £30m already distributed

As the UK marks Mental Health Awareness Week, the National Emergencies Trust (NET) reveals that more than 1,400 frontline charities and community groups supporting people’s wellbeing have now received grants from its emergency Coronavirus Appeal.

The Appeal was launched nine weeks ago with support from NET’s Royal Patron, the Duke of Cambridge, to receive and distribute emergency funds to communities in urgent need.

As conversation grows about the mental health impacts of COVID-19, the Trust’s data on grants awarded demonstrates the critical role that local charities and grassroots organisations are playing in supporting public wellbeing on the community frontline.

The new data was unveiled as the Duke of Cambridge spoke with two Scottish beneficiaries of NET funds who are providing vital mental health assistance: Finding Your Feet, a charity providing mental and physical support to amputees based in Paisley, and PEEK, a children’s charity based in Glasgow, which has seen a surge in demand for mental health support.

In its first eight weeks, NET’s Coronavirus Appeal received more than £60m in pledges from businesses, charitable trusts and the public – and distributed more than £30m of this to local charities and organisations supporting those in urgent need. Earlier this week, a significant pledge of £20m from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the wider insurance and long term savings industry took the pledge total to £80m.

“To say this crisis has put pressure on everyone’s resilience and mental health is an understatement. For those already struggling with mental health problems and isolation, the impact is devastating. It’s vital that during this crisis, we are getting support to exactly where it’s needed, fast, including to those charities and groups supporting people’s wellbeing on the community frontline.

“Throughout this challenging and uncertain time, when charities are still struggling to meet the new needs of their communities, pledges to the National Emergencies Trust help to support thousands of local charities making a difference to those in need.”

Lord Dannatt, Chairman of the National Emergencies Trust

Local Distribution

Through NET’s partnership with the UK Community Foundations Network (UKCF), support for its Coronavirus Appeal will continue to benefit a diverse range of local charities and organisations, including those offering vital mental health assistance, such as:

Finding your Feet

Based in Paisley, supports amputees and those with limb absence across Scotland. Launched in 2014, the charity fights against isolation and provides mental and physical support. Many of its members are ‘high risk’ and the charity has moved its counselling online, offering phone and video chats, created a private online support group as well as running virtual sessions, such as meditation and yoga.

Comics Youth CIC

Supports children and young people across Liverpool. The charity has seen increasing demand for mental health support, with over 800 requests in the first week. Working to provide a support mechanism for those struggling, it has been providing Stay Safe Packs during the lockdown.

Think2Speak

Is a social enterprise in Lincolnshire working to empower young people. During lockdown, it is continuing to support the mental health of service users with telephone support and video counselling, alongside a listening ear service and delivering wellbeing packs.

Youth in Romsey

Is a support centre for those aged between 6-25 years old. It is providing remote support and counselling sessions for young people in Romsey and the Southern Test Valley. Through isolation, its 1:1 web-based mental health sessions with professional counsellors have been a lifeline for those struggling.

If you’re a local charity or group that would like to receive support from the appeal, you can find out who your local Community Foundation is and get in touch here. For more info, go to: https://www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/our-network

National Emergencies Trust Has Distributed A Total of £12.5m As It Welcomes The Duke of Cambridge As Patron

Hundreds of food banks and distribution services for medicines and essential goods are receiving support.

Today the National Emergencies Trust has announced a further £5m of funding has been distributed to charities across the UK, helping those communities most impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. This brings total funds distributed in less than a month from the launch of the Trust’s appeal to £12.5m; money generously given by the public, major charitable trusts, and businesses.

The news comes as the Trust is delighted to welcome the Duke of Cambridge as its new and only Patron following his conversations with two early beneficiaries of NET funds; the Moorland Community Charity in the East Riding of Yorkshire and the Dal Dy Dir community farm in Powys, Wales.

“I think Britain is at its best when faced with a crisis. We all pull together and that community spirit comes rushing back quicker than anything else.”

The Duke of Cambridge

“After his steadfast support for the National Emergencies Trust from our launch last November through into this Coronavirus Appeal, all connected with the NET are delighted that The Duke of Cambridge has honoured our work by becoming our Patron for 2020. We look forward to working with him, and our partners in the UK Community Foundation network, to help communities across the country tackle the dramatic rise in food poverty as well as the many other increasingly pressing social issues arising from this crisis.”

Lord Dannatt, Chairman of the National Emergencies Trust

So far, a total of £25m has been pledged to the Coronavirus Appeal with a further £20m in match funding promised from the Government. Further distributions will be made in the coming days, to continue to support the most vulnerable in society.

The money will be distributed through UK Community Foundations to 50 local community foundations across the country.

The appeal is responding to the needs of local communities across the UK and allocating money to community foundations based on local factors such as levels of deprivation and demographics in each region.

Local Distribution

So far in the distribution process, community foundations have reported that the provision of food, medicines and other essential items is where support is needed most. A snapshot of some of the local groups already benefitting from the appeal include:

Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust

Based in Herefordshire, Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust is ensuring the delivery of food, medicine and essential items so that no one is going without. It is also running the ‘Ross Good Neighbours’ service, providing daily phone calls and check-ins for people isolating at home alone.

Hour Community

Unable to run its dementia lunch club, Hour Community in Suffolk is picking up the demand for the vital Meals on Wheels service, partnering with a local hotel to deliver much needed nutritious meals to those vulnerable and isolated in rural areas. They are also supporting prescription deliveries and shopping needs for those in isolation.

The Senior Centre

The Senior Centre, in Castlemilk, Scotland, is providing food and health awareness updates for more than 400 elderly people, as well as ensuring they remain connected through phone calls.

Bedford Street Community Company

Based in North Wales, the Bedford Street Community Company in Rhyl is making up meals and distributing food packages to vulnerable people in the community – following the closure of its community café.

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