Pictured: Gaddum’s traumatic bereavement therapy team, led by Natalia Ozioro (2nd from right).
Gaddum is collaborating with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), to support victims of crime using recovered funds from criminals.
Currently, we have a waitlist of over 150 young people aged 5-18 seeking help after experiencing the traumatic loss of a loved one, with an increasing proportion due to crime, violence, drugs, alcohol, or suicide. Recognising this pressing need, we approached GMP with a proposal to utilise funds from the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) – money seized from criminals and allocated for community use – to provide bereavement therapy and targeted support for 20 such young people over the next 12 months.
Traumatic bereavement is a unique challenge, combining grief, loss, and the aftermath of a traumatic event. This needs a specialist approach from therapists who support not only the young person but also their family members, including parents and siblings, as well as working with school and social workers.
Natalia Ozioro heads up Gaddum’s Bereavement Therapy Service and extols the importance of a holistic approach,
“We found young people healed more effectively when we enhanced our approach to 18 one-to one therapy sessions and included safeguarding, family psycho-education, school interventions and post-support reviews. However, this level of care comes at a cost which is approximately £1,000 per child.
Thanks to the GMP funds, we’re already working with 11 children. Obviously, I can’t provide details, but some have witnessed firsthand the violent death of a family member in traumatic circumstances. No child should ever have to go through that, so we’re extremely grateful this money has been made available quickly and we can get on with helping them.”
Chief Inspector Chris Boyd from Greater Manchester Police, who handles ARIS bids, said:
“It feels particularly just when we can allocate these funds to organisations like Gaddum, for them to specifically help traumatised young people with bereavement therapy. The proceeds of crime are helping the victims of crime, which is truly gratifying.”
Ben Whalley is CEO of Gaddum and sees this as the start of a great collaboration with GMP,
“This initiative is currently for Manchester and Salford, but my vision is it’s available across all Greater Manchester. The need is there, and the support given makes a massive difference.
The extra beautiful thing is that, yes, we’re having impact now, but we’re also creating a better future for these children, so that impact is continuing 20-30 years plus from now.”
Find out more about our specialist Traumatic Bereavement Therapy.