Abingdonian 2017

57 www.abingdon.org.uk Summer Term safety; a return of tribal violence has led to the postponing of the school of which we funded a very significant proportion. Rest assured the school will still open, but this problem highlights just how difficult life in Zimbabwe can be. Helen & Douglas House is more of a local charity working around Oxfordshire, actively supporting around 60 terminally ill young people and their families at any one time. They provide palliative care to young people with life-shortening conditions to live out the rest of their lives in the most enjoyable and dignified way. Reading through the many positive quotes from people who know they are going to die young is really quite a humbling experience. Their mission is summed up best by a quote from Dylan, “I might have a short life, but I can still have a fun life.” Your aid makes all the difference during times of pain and mourning when money really should not be the main concern. The Abingdon Bridge really is closer to home for most of us; young adults in Abingdon who just need that one bit of advice on issues that could threaten any of us; a bad relationship, drugs or even something that seems so simple like stress. Mental health is one of the great issues of modern society, and it can affect any of us. Children Heard and Seen supports another group who get less charitable attention than they desperately need, the children of prisoners. We must remember that all of us start off life in the same way, and it is only our upbringing, or lack thereof, that shape us as people. Facts speak louder than opinions so I will leave you with this; some choice statistics from the Children Heard and Seen website. - 65% of boys with a convicted parent go on to offend themselves. 60% of women in prison have children. - A prison sentence separates 17,000 children a year from their mothers. - 25% of children with a parent in prison are at risk of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, eating and sleeping disorders. - It is estimated that every £1 invested in supporting prisoners’ families could save the taxpayer £11. The Charities Committee 2016-17