The Manchester charity turning criminal cash into helping kids with trauma

A charity is using the proceeds of criminal activity to help young people who need it most.

Gaddum Charity

Gaddum is one of Manchester’s oldest charities and is nearly 200 years old.

It currently has a waiting list of over 150 young people aged 5-18 seeking help after experiencing the traumatic loss of a loved one, with an increasing number due to crime, violence, drugs, alcohol, or suicide. 

Recognising this pressing need, Gaddum approached GMP with a proposal to use funds from the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS)

Asset Recovery Incentivisation scheme 

This is money seized from criminals and allocated for community use. 

The money can then be used to provide targeted support for 20 such young people over the next 12 months.

What is traumatic bereavement?

Traumatic bereavement is a unique challenge, combining grief, loss, and the aftermath of a traumatic event.

This needs a specialised approach from therapists who support not only the young person but also their family members, including parents and siblings, as well as working with school and social workers.

Natalia Ozioro from Gaddum

“We found young people healed more effectively when we enhanced our approach to 18 one-to one therapy sessions and included safeguarding, family psycho-education, school interventions and post-support reviews,” says Natalia Ozioro, who heads up Gaddum’s Bereavement Therapy Service

“However, this level of care comes at a cost which is approximately £1,000 per child.”

Natalia continued: “Thanks to the GMP funds, we’re already working with 11 children. Obviously, I can’t provide details, but some have witnessed first hand the violent death of a family member in traumatic circumstances.

“No child should ever have to go through that, so we’re extremely grateful this money has been made available quickly and we can get on with helping them.”

Manchester Metropolitan Police

“It feels particularly just when we can allocate these funds to organisations like Gaddum, for them to specifically help traumatised young people,” said Chief Inspector Chris Boyd, who handles ARIS bids.  

“The proceeds of crime are helping the victims of crime, which is truly gratifying.” 

Gaddum CEO Ben Whalley sees this as the start of a great collaboration with GMP:

“This initiative is currently for Manchester and Salford, but my vision is it’s available across all Greater Manchester. The need is there, and the support given makes a massive difference.

“The extra beautiful thing is that, yes, we’re having an impact now, but we’re also creating a better future for these children, so that impact continues 20-30 years plus from now.”

Find out more about Gaddum’s work by clicking here