Always on
This project successfully funded on 30th June 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Hidden Backpacks - Free Your Mind CIC
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
£655
raised so far
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Aim
Help us change just 1 child's life today by funding their counselling journey with us.
We're a lived experience led grassroots nonprofit organisation, who supports children and young people effected by domestic abuse.
Children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse are often caught in the crossfires - they are victims too, domestic abuse cases are rising; and 78% of children living with domestic abuse are directly harmed by the perpetrator of the abuse, in addition to the harm caused by the abuse they experienced from others. 1 in 5 children in the UK experience domestic abuse.
These victims carry around difficult emotions and feelings that affect their learning, social lives and general wellbeing. They become isolated, scared, angry, confused, upset - and often they are hiding these emotions, carrying them around with them all day, like a hidden backpack.
It costs £630 for a child or young person to have x8 weekly bespoke counselling sessions with us.
We improve child victims' confidence and self-esteem, so they can thrive like their peers - and importantly, break the cycle of intergenerational domestic abuse - that often takes place when trauma is unaddressed.
Our work solves a gap in the mental health system and crisis we are enduring in the UK. NHS child mental health services are overrun and have lengthy waiting lists. Child and young victims of domestic abuse have specific needs that aren't like others and as a lived experience led service we know personally how to address these issues.
We know the positive impact of our work:
- 79% of service users had an increase in outside interests following their completed sessions with us
- 79% of service users felt their feelings were heard following their sessions with us
- 93% of service users had an increase in feelings of self-worth following their sessions with us
- 79% of service users had an increase in feelings of self-confidence following their sessions with us
- 100% had increase in their feelings of calmness and were able to better self-regulate their feelings following sessions with us (data from July - Dec 25)
Last year we supported 265 children and young people, from London Boroughs of Redbridge, Waltham Forest and from Birmingham, where we are currently based, that’s an over 7.1% increase from the year before.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made