Northamptonshire trauma project aims to turn children's lives around

Trauma Response Northamptonshire aims to make a difference to the lives of young people and families in the county

A pilot project aims to tackle and treat trauma to stop children going into care or turning to criminality.

The charity Crysalys Foundation said the Trauma Response Northamptonshire project will run for a year and a half and will hopefully become permanent.

Jane Deamer, from the charity, said it could "make a real positive difference to trauma-experienced children's outcomes and lives".

The £195,111 funding came from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Eunice Lumsden said she was "delighted" to be part of the pilot

The Crysalys Foundation, based in Northampton, will lead the project and work with the University of Northampton (UON), Northamptonshire Youth Offending Service, Service Six, Stand Out Northamptonshire and The Chrysalis Programme.

It aims to improve health, wellbeing, increase family support, and reduce violence and offending.

Northamptonshire criminal justice system data indicates that up to 70% of youth defendants are children in care or children in need, the charity said.

Up to 25 young people and their families will be offered free interventions that will include one-to-one support, group work, mentoring, life skills and professional therapy.

Eunice Lumsden, a professor of child advocacy at UON, who will be a consultant on the project, said: "There is nothing more important than investing in children, young people and families, yet over two thirds of youth defendants in Northamptonshire are children in care or children in need."

It will aim to do "things differently so that young people can do things differently".

Ms Deamer, the charity's development manager, said: "Our partnership have worked closely for over two years to make this project a reality.

"Together we can make a real positive difference to trauma-experienced children's outcomes and lives."

It will run until April 2025 and once it is complete the charity hopes it will continue another three years and then be sustained by the groups.