A global financial firm is investing in the future of children who have been exposed to domestic violence by funding specialist support designed to help them open up about their experience, fears and overcome trauma in a safe environment.

A £5,000 donation from the London-based charity committee of Aberdeen Asset Management is enabling Greenwich Domestic Violence Children’s Service, operated by Housing for Women, to help over 50 children this year overcome the trauma of abuse and get their childhood back. Thanks to the funding from Aberdeen Asset Managerment, a Children’s Worker will provide vital emotional and practical support to children affected by domestic abuse, enabling them to discuss their feelings and grow in confidence. In addition to individual sessions, the Children’s Worker will facilitate therapeutic and educational group sessions to build self-esteem and improve social skills for the children and their mothers.

Mothers have noted positive transformations in their children thanks to the project, with one mother saying: ‘My daughter was very quiet and had difficulty making friends. Now, I can see that she is more confident, she speaks more in groups and is always talking about games that she has been playing with her friends.’ Noemi Reiner, fundraising manager for Housing for Women said: “We work with women and their children who have escaped abuse and are facing challenging circumstances and every penny that we receive helps support them. We are delighted to receive this funding from Aberdeen Asset Management, who have been supportive of our charity work in Greenwich since 2015. This latest grant will help children living in our Greenwich Domestic Violence Refuge overcome trauma and get their childhoods back. Children at the refuge can dicsuss their fears and anxiety and receive emotional and practical support to enable them to develop their confidence and resilience and build a safe future for themselves.”

Housing for Women has been supporting vulnerable women in London since 1934 and has domestic violence refuges in Ealing, Merton and Greenwich. The charity helps rebuild lives of women who are fleeing domestic abuse, have been the victims of trafficking , or mothers leaving prison.

Claire Drummond, head of charitable giving at Aberdeen Asset Management commented: “Housing For Women has been providing homes and services to women and their families across London for over 80 years. Its one-to-one support sessions for children allow them to have a safe place to open up about their feelings and experiences which results in them being able to rebuild confidence and self-esteem.”

Set up in 2012, Aberdeen Asset’s Charitable Foundation formalises and develops the Group’s charitable giving globally, seeking partnerships with smaller charities around the world, where funds can be seen to have a meaningful and measurable impact and the firm encourages its employees to use their time and skills to support its charitable projects. The Foundation’s main focus is around emerging markets and local communities, reflecting the desire to give back to those areas which are a key strategic focus of the business and to build on the historic pattern of giving to communities in which Aberdeen employees live and work.

For more information visit http://www.aberdeen-asset.co.uk/aam.nsf/foundation/home

Submitted by Esther Green