Award-winning children’s domestic abuse charity Strength With In Me Foundation (S.W.I.M) announces its inclusion in a lockdown fundraising event in the midst of rising domestic abuse.
Kickoff@3 have devised a lockdown-friendly challenge SpinOff@3, a challenge designed specifically to continue to raise funds during the restrictions of lockdown and social distancing to support crucial charities including S.W.I.M.
In previous years, KickOff@3 founders Kickoff@3 Michael Wallace and Ashley Levien have bought together the police forces to organise community football fundraiser for key charities. This year, in light of lockdown, KickOff@3 have announced a different fundraising project, the SpinOff@3 challenge, which will be raising money for registered children’s domestic abuse charity S.W.I.M amidst the current coronavirus lockdown’s impact on domestic abuse.
‘As the proud Co-Founders of Kickoff@3 we are excited at launching our new National initiative of Spinoff@3 in good support of SWIM and YouWeMe. We hope lots of money will be raised whilst working altogether for vital causes.’ Michael Wallace & Ashley Levien
Domestic violence is a major issue during lockdown Britain as multiple support services have reported a surge in calls to helplines, while the Metropolitan police said they had made 4,093 arrests for domestic abuse offences – an average of about 100 a day since March 9th, when people with coronavirus symptoms were asked to self-isolate. The effect on British children and young people is devastating. Two women die every week from domestic abuse; in the past week alone 16 victims have died and 3 of those were children. Without the sanctuary of school and the support of peers and practitioners, children in domestic abuse are experiencing a crisis during the lockdown.
S.W.I.M’s healthy relationship workshops have been raising awareness by sensitively tackling the controversial area of Domestic Abuse and relationships all over the country using a combination of imaginatively designed, empowering and age-appropriate interactive workshops based around empowerment, increasing self-esteem and recognising self-worth. Founded by domestic abuse survivor Dr Diahanne Rhiney BCAe, the charity won a National Diversity Award for its work with young people and informing an APPG to have healthy relationships taught in schools to children over five years old. Presently, the charity requires urgent financial assistance to manage a 60% increase in calls from distressed young people and to develop a lockdown app that offers support, advice, guidance, and discreet access to the emergency services.
‘These are challenging times for domestic abuse victims; here at S.W.I.M, we have gone from receiving approximately 30 calls per week from young people in domestic abuse households and relationships to 198 per week. As we adapt to the new climate and rising numbers, were seeking to provide support and help via apps and other accessible means during the lockdown, so the charity is in dire need of funding more than ever. I was thrilled when Kickoff@3 contacted me to say they still wanted to support S.W.I.M despite COVID:19 lockdown via their brilliant concept SpinOff@3. We’re taking this situation very seriously at the charity and it’s an honour to receive the support of such a respected organisation.’
SpinOff@3 is a challenge that can be completed on anything with wheels (not motorised) from roller skates to skateboard( whilst social distancing which encourages people of all ages (but especially young people) to be active, spend time with their household members and support crucial charities Strength With In Me and St Albans Action for Homelessness. The challenge is broken down into optional sub-challenges which give people flexibility depending upon their individual circumstances.
Details on how to get involved can be found at https://www.kickoffat3.co.uk
Open to all ages and ability, the challenge is on the 3rd – 10th June.