# Barnardo’s to lead charity coalition to support vulnerable children

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/06/08/barnardos-to-lead-charity-coalition-to-support-vulnerable-children/
- Published: 2020-06-08T13:55:01+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Barnardo’s is to lead a new coalition of charities aimed at helping vulnerable
children most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.**
 Funded by £7m from Department
for Education programme, the [See, Hear, Respond](https://www.barnardos.org.uk/see-hear-respond)
service launches on 15 June with Barnardo’s due to open applications for expressions
of interest from local partners in the coming weeks. Leading See, Hear, Respond,
Barnardo’s will form a coalition with other national children’s charities and community-
based organisations, which will work alongside local authorities, schools and colleges,
police forces, healthcare professionals and other child protection services. See,
Hear, Respond will aim to reach children and families who are not in contact with
children’s services and to prevent their needs escalating. It will prioritise those
most at risk of harm either inside or outside the home, including very young children
and adolescents. See, Hear, Respond will provide:

 * Access to an online support package to children and families ensuring they have
   readily available, accessible and interactive information
 * Online and telephone referral service by trained professionals who can source
   further help and support from charity workers within the partnership
 * Online counselling or therapy for those experiencing high levels of anxiety, 
   trauma or other mental health issues that can be safely addressed through digital
   means
 * Youth interventions and face-to-face crisis support, particularly for those at
   risk of or experiencing various forms of exploitation, including criminal exploitation

In particular, Barnardo’s says, it will focus on:

 * Under 5s, with a focus on under 2s
 * Those with SEND who have other associated harms such as exploitation
 * Children out of the home at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation – working
   in outreach detached settings
 * BAME children – offering culturally sensitive and responsive services to reach
   families and communities that have been disproportionately impacted by Covid 
   19
 * Young carers

Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said:

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>  “The coronavirus pandemic means vulnerable children and young people are increasingly
> hidden from services, and by working closely with the Department for Education
> and a wide range of national and local charities, we will provide a vital lifeline
> to those at risk of harm. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,
> and we have formed this partnership because vulnerable children now face challenges
> that are too complex for any single organisation to solve alone.”
>  “Through this
> project, we aim to reach hundreds of thousands of children who have been hidden
> from services, either face to face or with digital tools. By stepping in early
> we will improve their long-term outcomes and maximise their chance of a positive
> future.”

The Department for Education and the Home Office are also opening a new joint £7.6
million fund for national vulnerable children’s charities working in England and
Wales on issues including child sexual abuse and child criminal exploitation. This
money is aimed at charities that have suffered financial harm as a result of the
virus, to help them stabilise and continue delivering their services.
 The application
process for the £7.6 million fund for national vulnerable children’s charities will
open shortly. Funding for both comes from the Government’s £750 million package 
of support for charities.  

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