Wednesday 13 Jun 2012 @ 14:02
Third Sector
Third Sector
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Her Nightmare was My Nightmare
Support After Murder And Manslaughter (SAMM) boasts more than 50 passionate volunteers nationwide - all of whom have tragically lost a loved one as a result of murder or manslaughter.
The project is one of 45 across England sharing in over £11.5 million from Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme, providing good cause grants from £10,000 to £500,000 to build stronger communities and help those most in need.
Almost £300,000 in Lottery funding will allow SAMM, which provides emotional support to its 3,000 plus members who have been bereaved through homicide, to expand its services across the country. It will provide access to trained peer support volunteers across all 83 counties and, where appropriate, beneficiaries will be matched to someone who has experienced a similar kind of bereavement.
Further training will also be provided to police to improve their understanding of trauma - over the past year SAMM delivered courses for 300 professionals including detectives, victim liaison officers and probation staff.
Further training will also be provided to police to improve their understanding of trauma - over the past year SAMM delivered courses for 300 professionals including detectives, victim liaison officers and probation staff.
The need for such tailored bereavement support is manifold: In 2011 the murder rate in England rose by 5% - and the project estimates indicate that for every death, four close relatives or friends can be severely affected for up to a decade afterwards.
The emotional difficulties SAMM seeks to address result not only from the shock of losing a loved one in distressing circumstances, but can also be compounded by the police investigation, sometimes multiple post mortems, long delays before a funeral, a lack of empathy from professionals involved, the ordeal of a trial, hearing distressing details of the death itself and discovering new information about their loved one.
People experiencing this trauma can access SAMM’s 24 hour helpline, face-to-face emotional support including free weekend retreats, a secure online forum for peer support and regular informative newsletters.
Marie Ellis, Chair of SAMM, has been a trustee of the charity since 1996, four years after her 25-year-old son Alan Hooper was stabbed to death in Wavertree High Street in Liverpool. His killer admitted manslaughter in July 1992 and was jailed for three years.
Mrs Ellis said: “His killer was released after just 18 months. This is a sentence and conviction I have never come to terms with but alas something I have to live with.
“I cannot express enough the sheer relief I felt as a bereaved mother when I met another mother who had suffered a similar tragedy to me. We didn't know each other but immediately we felt a bond - here was somebody who could understand my pain. I didn't need to explain myself - she just knew.
Her pain was my pain, her nightmare was my nightmare - we could talk openly to each other, we had a mutual understanding, but what was so important was that we cared for each other and had the time to listen to each other. We can give a unique support and try to enable people to prepare themselves for a very different future and to help them adapt to that future through peer support.”
Her pain was my pain, her nightmare was my nightmare - we could talk openly to each other, we had a mutual understanding, but what was so important was that we cared for each other and had the time to listen to each other. We can give a unique support and try to enable people to prepare themselves for a very different future and to help them adapt to that future through peer support.”
Case study available of Barbara, whose 50-year-old brother was stabbed to death by his best friend in November 2010. She was supported by SAMM within a week of the murder and says the charity has been “key” to her recovery, giving her hope for the future.
Also receiving Lottery funding is Action for Blind People (Action), which aims to help visually impaired young people aged 14-25 to become more confident and independent. Through their grant of almost £165,000, Action will provide residential weekends in the Lake District and on the Devon, Somerset and Sussex coasts, hosting individual or team activities and practical workshops delivered by professionals.
Susan Wright, Action’s Head of Children, Young People and Family Service Development, said: “This money will make a world of difference to the lives of blind and partially sighted children and young people throughout the country. Action’s service is designed around what young people have told us they need. The funding will enable us to organise weekends designed to help youngsters with sight loss to develop independence, self confidence, and team working skills in a safe and fun environment.”
Case study available of a young woman who struggled as an isolated student at Bristol University – but who attended the pilot weekend and is now living independently and has increased her self-esteem and network of friends.
Receiving over £295,000, the Campaign for National Parks will improve the lives of young people facing social and economic exclusion through training opportunities in the great outdoors.
Around 50 Young Champions will be recruited annually in the national parks of Exmoor, the Lake District, the New Forest, Northumberland and the Yorkshire Dales, and each will engage at least 20 disadvantaged young people in outdoor activities such as mountain biking. Over 6,000 young people will be involved in the project.
Around 50 Young Champions will be recruited annually in the national parks of Exmoor, the Lake District, the New Forest, Northumberland and the Yorkshire Dales, and each will engage at least 20 disadvantaged young people in outdoor activities such as mountain biking. Over 6,000 young people will be involved in the project.
Finally a Lewisham group is set to get families together and embrace Olympic ideals in their local parks as part of a four year project which kicks off during this special summer of sport. Through its Big Lottery Fund grant of almost £320,000, Community Teachsport will deliver fun sporting activities in safe park environments after school and during holidays, encouraging people of all ages to become more active.
Nat Sloane, Big Lottery Fund England Chair said: “Reaching Communities continues to enable projects across the country to make big differences to individual lives.
“Trauma as a result of the homicide of a loved one can be chronic and adversely affect every aspect of a person’s life, from family relationships to coping with day-to-day life. As a result of the grant from the Big Lottery Fund, I am pleased SAMM will be able to extend its reach to help more people find support and hope in deeply distressing circumstances.”
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
