Our Too Much Too Young Appeal
Across Norfolk and Suffolk close to 30,000 children, some as young as five years old, are seriously affected by drug, alcohol and gambling issues of family members. To help these children, in October 2010 we launched the Too Much Too Young appeal in Norfolk.
The major aim of this special charity appeal was to enable us to develop a dedicated service to work with some of these children, and help give them back their childhood. The initial target for the appeal was £50,000.
This target was achieved by the Christmas of 2010 and in July 2011 had raised over £80,000. This meant we have been able to recruit the first worker in Norwich for the service.
We later received confirmation from Children In Need of over £60,000 in charity funding for the Too Much Too Young service in the Great Yarmouth area.
Over the moon in Suffolk
Now, with two services in Norfolk and much hard work on the fundraising front, we’ve decided to replicate the appeal in Suffolk in October 2011. It will take the same shape that worked so well in Norfolk and we have already received the great news from Ipswich Town Football Club. They have nominated NORCAS and our Too Much Too Young appeal to be one of their three charities for the 2011/2012 season.
This gives the appeal a great basis to launch into Suffolk. Plus, we’ve already confirmed that Mark Andrews, Financial Controller and Company Secretary of ITFC, will run the London Marathon in the Olympic year on behalf of the Too Much Too Young appeal.
On the ball City
We ought to also mention that David McNally, Chief Executive of Norwich City Football Club, chose to run the 2011 London Marathon for NORCAS and the Too Much Too Young appeal, after meeting some of the young carers we work with.
An astonishing £14,000 later David has now become a major donor and supporter of the appeal and keeps a keen interest in the success of the service. We’ve recently been informed by the London Marathon that David’s fundraising efforts were the highest achieved by any Silver Bond holding charity in the country; we receive a place in the 2012 London Marathon as congratulations. So a big thank you to David, his supporters and all the fans of Norwich City Football Club for their support.
Children in Need
The appeal is such a compelling subject that the BBC and Children In Need have decided to film our Norfolk service for their appeal night. It will be shown regionally this winter and maybe nationally too.
Why you should help too
All this support is fantastic, but there is so much more we could do to help these children. They can be affected in so many ways by the misuse of drugs and alcohol by a family member, for example through:
- a chaotic home life
- financial difficulties or early responsibilities
- domestic abuse - physical, mental and sexual
- lack of school attendance
- criminal and anti-social behaviour
- lack of social activities
- bullying
- role reversal - having to look after their families.
These problems can have various negative consequences for the children, such as low self-esteem and confidence, lack of educational attainment, social exclusion and neglect of health. They’re also at a much higher risk of developing drug and alcohol problems themselves.
Help us give them back their childhood
Ultimately all of these factors combine to rob children of their childhood. Please help us give them it back.
100% of the money raised through this appeal will go straight to the children, across Norfolk and Suffolk, who need our help.
What your money will do.
- £26 will pay some for someone to work with a group of young children for one hour.
- £52 will train a young child on what to do in an emergency (recovery position, first aid, 999)
- £156 will pay for a series of one-to-one sessions with a young child.
- £500 will provide respite for a group of young children whilst parent/s in treatment
- £1,400 will raise awareness in four schools of the service.
- £13,924 will employ a youth worker for six months
If you're interesting in supporting NORCAS please call our Head of Fundraising, Matt Wilson on 01603 227053.