Speaker Meeting, 6.15 for 6.30pm

Our guest speaker, Emma Hildesley, is the NSPCC Community Fundraising Manager for Bristol, Bath, North Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.  Emma is in the picture above with Club President Ann and Rotarian Bob Humphries.

Emma is responsible for supporting the volunteers and organisations having a fundraising event in that large area.   One minute she might be filling in as the bingo caller then the next pitching in at a major stakeholder meeting.

She said: “It’s a challenging role, fundraisers have high targets which rely heavily on the good will of people. It’s a tough economic climate right now and everyone is under immense pressure, but the NSPCC needs to keep going to ensure children continue to get the help they always need.”

The NSPCC is the UK's leading children’s charity and has been looking out for children for 135 years.  We Rotarians were amazed to learn that it has been working in Swindon for 125 years.  Today, In the South-West, it is working directly with 270 children and families.

Emma continued: “Everything we do protects children today and prevents abuse tomorrow.  Working together with enthusiastic people and generating some exciting activities to make a difference to children's lives. The South West is a fabulous area.” 

The NSPCC’s Regional Services Hub in Swindon is in Old Town. The Hub co-ordinates all their work across the region, including direct services, local campaigns, community partnerships.  They go into primary schools with their “Speak Out Safely” presentations and into secondary schools to talk about Healthy Relationships.  They have a named person supporting every school in Wiltshire.

They also operate 2 phone lines: Helpline and Childline.  UK wide, the NSPCC Helpline received 60,000 calls last year.  In Swindon and the South-West alone, Childline resulted in 2,200 counselling sessions.

The services offered by the NSPCC include:

1. Domestic Abuse, Recovering Together (DART). This is a group work programme that helps children and mothers get back on track after experiencing domestic abuse. Over 10 weeks, mothers and children aged 7 to 14 meet to explore their experiences, learn coping strategies and rebuild their individual parent-child relationships.

2. InCtrl.  InCtrl helps young people to understand the risks and benefits of the internet. They work with children aged 9 to 13, using group sessions

3. Letting the Future In. Children and young people aged 4 to 17 are supported to rebuild their lives after experiencing sexual abuse.   Practitioners work with children in safe therapeutic spaces, doing things like messy play, writing, storytelling and art to help them express feelings they can’t put into words.

4. Pregnancy in Mind. A preventative mental health service that helps support expectant parents who have or are at risk of mild to moderate anxiety or depression. I

Emma said: “We are dependent on voluntary donations for almost 90% of our income and, not only money, but also on people coming forward to offer themselves as volunteers.  I look forward to continuing to receive the support of organisations such as yours.”

On behalf of all members present, Bob Humphries thanked Emma for coming to talk to us at this meeting.