Up to 60 children who are struggling due to trauma such as bereavement, family breakdown, bullying or domestic abuse will now receive help from Clear Sky Children’s Charity thanks to a £15,000 grant from Berkshire Freemasons via the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
Clear Sky currently operates in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and offer one to one support for children and joint play therapy sessions with children and their parents. They also support the wellbeing of children in schools by producing resources to train and support teachers so that they can help the children they teach.
Anna Hodgson, Captain of Clear Sky said:
“Our children are facing a mental health crisis and we know how to help. Our aim is for all children to be happy, love life and enjoy school. This grant will enable us to provide one to one play and creative arts therapy for up to 60 children over the next three years. For every £1 spent on early intervention, it saves society £15 in the future. We are grateful to Berkshire Freemasons for their support in helping us towards our £80,000 fundraising target.”
Anthony Howlett-Bolton, the leader of Berkshire Freemasons said:
“I am pleased that the Masonic Charitable Foundation have recognised the important contribution Clear Sky make to the wellbeing of children in our area and that this grant will be used to make a difference in young peoples’ lives. I encourage teachers to contact the charity as there will be children in your schools who would benefit from the support they offer.”
Maurice Dixon, who leads the newly proposed Didcot Masonic Lodge and Keith Winterbone who leads Ingham Clark Lodge, visited the charity to find out more about their work and were treated to an example of play therapy by Becky Hill, Head of Therapeutic Thinking.
Maurice said:
“I have worked with young people and schools for many years and recognise that children face huge disadvantages if they do not receive help early on. Sophia (CEO “Chief of Enthusiasm & Optimism” and founder) has created a highly qualified team with a breadth of experience and the Didcot lodges are delighted to be able to support this local charity.”
Individuals and fundraisers can support the charity by going to their website www.clear-sky.org.uk and making a donation.
ABOUT CLEAR SKY CHILDREN’S CHARITY
Clear Sky’s mission is ‘To harness the power of play to enhance the emotional wellbeing of children and their families, by providing qualified therapeutic support and delivering professional training based on the very latest research.’
Clear Sky is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and as such are bound by its ethical framework and guidelines for good practice, as well as being subject to its professional conduct procedures. They currently have 12 qualified therapists. Therapists are registered professionals qualified in Play Therapy, Dramatherapy, Dance & Movement Psychotherapy, Counselling, Child Psychotherapy and Art Therapy. They have a breadth of experience equipping them to deal with often complex social and emotional issues.