KidsAid - Creative therapy for those in need

Working in the family courts for more than 25 years, and as Joint Head of Chartlands Chambers since it was founded in 1995 I became very aware of how little therapeutic provision there was in the Northamptonshire area for children who experience trauma, neglect, bereavement or abuse. I was determined that this should change, and so in 2007 the charity KidsAid was born.

We support children and young people aged 3-18 years across Northamptonshire and surrounding areas who have experienced trauma. We provide therapeutic support to young people struggling with family breakdown, attachment, illness, and bereavement through to anxiety, bullying and behavioural difficulties, as well as domestic violence, neglect, and abuse.

The aim is to provide early intervention in the form of creative therapies to support children and young people to lead healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives and to ensure early years’ trauma does not manifest in later life, causing more serious problems in the future.

Lack of provision continues to be both a national and local issue, as further funding cuts and closure of local services during the past few years has left families most vulnerable in our community increasingly isolated and disadvantaged, which has only been amplified since the pandemic.

Chartlands Chambers has been supporting KidsAid in various ways since the charity’s launch. In particular Chartlands has sponsored three major conferences focussing on children’s mental health and wellbeing (one at St Andrew’s Hospital, and two at Althorp, thanks to the generosity of the Earl and Countess Spencer). Speakers have included The Right Honourable Lord Wilson, former Justice of the UK Supreme Court. The conference chair on each occasion was Sir Alistair MacDonald QC, High Court Judge (Family Division). I remain a Trustee of KidsAid, and I and all members of Chartlands promote the vital work of the charity at every opportunity in the courts. Another conference is being planned when Covid-safe to do so.

For more information about how we work, to receive a quote or to make a referral, please contact our Case Manager: becca@kidsaid.org.uk

If you wish to support us, please contact: info@kidsaid.org.uk or visit our website: www.kidsaid.org.uk where you can make a one off or regular donation. Thank you.

Joy Pinkham was called to the Bar in 1993. In 1995 she assisted with the launch of Chartlands Chambers – which is now the longest established chambers in Northamptonshire and the practice today focuses exclusively on family law. Through her work within Family Law she witnessed children who had been traumatised by this, coupled with the lack of therapeutic provision locally drove her to make changes and saw the charity KidsAid being formed- initially to offer play therapy, but now expanded to provide a range of creative and other therapies.