BM on Linked In
Facebook Many of the 13,500 children reached by Kids Company’s services have
experienced severe and multiple trauma. Often these are ‘lone children’
living in chronic deprivation, with little or no support from the
adults in their family. Some are young carers struggling to look after
younger siblings or parents who are unable to care for them, and many
have been forced into drug running, gangs, or prostitution as the only
means of survival in their depleted communities.
Kids Company operates through a street level drop-in centre (the Arches
II), a post-16 educational institution (the Urban Academy) and a
therapy centre (the Heart Yard) in South London, as well as offering
therapeutic and social work services in over 30 schools.
We aim to provide an environment where relationships of empathy and attachment can be fostered between children and trusted adults. The support we offer is tailored to the needs of each individual child. We offer unrelenting love for every child, whatever it takes: no matter how disturbed a child is, they will never be turned away.
We are constantly inspired by the courage and dignity expressed by vulnerable children in the face of overwhelming challenges, and in everything we do the child is put first. It is our belief that the public need to be frightened for these children, rather than frightened of them.
Kids Company was awarded the Liberty and Justice Human Rights Award, 2007.
The need for Kids Company
More than 95% of the children and young people we support come to us seeking help, or are referred by their peers; 97% say that Kids Company is effective. Research shows that young people coming to Kids Company face the following difficulties:
- 84% - homelessness - a deeply traumatic and destabilizing experience.
- 82% - substance misuse - this is often a reaction to emotional distress and can indicate a child’s vulnerability to being drawn into the criminal world of drug dealing and taking.
- 81% - criminal involvement, often to feed and clothe younger siblings.
- 83% - sustained, complex trauma during childhood.
- 87% - emotional difficulties and mental health problems.
- 39% - young carers struggling to cope.
Kids’ achievements
The University of London’s 2008 study found that Kids Company had helped:
- 95% improved their relationships
- 81% reintegrated into education, training or employment
- 86% engaged in work experience
- 90% reduced their involvement in criminal activity
- 94% reduced their level of substance misuse
- 89% moved away from crime.
Research by University of London, 2008
At Kids Company in 2008
- 12,000 children and young people accessed our services
- 5000 volunteers gave us their time, including 4292 corporate volunteers from 91 companies.
- 1800 children and young people with nowhere else to go came to our centre on Christmas day.
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Show 11 - Efficient IT structures are key for any SMEIntelligent Server Processors. Built-In Virtualization. Single Core Servers... have we lost you yet?
If, like many owner/managers of small businesses, you are simply confused by technical jargon, struggle to get to grips with your company's IT operations in general, or if you merely don't have the means or manpower to focus your energies on this vital aspect of running your company, then we seriously recommend you join us for this week's smallbusinesadvice.tv show.
It is vital for all small businesses to pay particular consideration to their IT structure. For example, how many companies won't invest in a secure, regularly backed-up server to host crucial and sensitive company data, instead opting to run their company from a desktop PC? Yet the former will reduce business risk and crucially save money in the long term. For many SMEs in this position, they could very easily lose years of data and client information by not having an up-to-date back up.
Joining presenter Ian Collins in the studio to show you how to best set up and run your company's IT operation and how you can work around the monetary issues that can prevent many SMEs from investing in an efficient IT structure is Steve Shakespeare, Intel's EMEA Business Solutions Director.
If you have any questions for Steve please e-mail them now via the box above and we'll do our best to answer them during the live show.
Steve Shakespeare joins us live online to discuss ways you can best set up and run your company's IT operation.
For more information visit www.smallbusinessadvice.tv
Find out more about Intel Xeon Processor Based Server Solutions for Small and Medium Business – download the pdf now
Show 10 - Your Business, Your Cash FlowWhat is the biggest key to surviving the recession? For many small businesses it's cashflow.
You may run a great company, but unless you have money to pay staff and suppliers, let alone for developing your services, in the current climate, things can get very difficult.
And for the many businesses without savings in the bank and reliant on loans the situation has clearly been particularly difficult.
To help advise how small businesses can keep the money flowing, Small Business Advice TV is delighted to welcome Martin Morrin, Managing Director of RBS Invoice Finance, and Patrick Fennelly, Finance Manager of Moving Venue Catering – celebrating their 25th anniversary this year – and who brings a wealth of experience on how a small business can manage its finances in the good times and the bad.
If you have any questions for presenter, Ian Collins to put to Martin or Patrick, please e-mail them now via the box above and we'll do our best to answer them during the show.
For more information visit www.smallbusinessadvice.tv
