The Ivison Trust, a Leeds-based charity, has been honored as the overall winner of the prestigious 2024 GSK IMPACT Awards for its exemplary support to parents and carers of children who are sexually and criminally exploited externally.
After a thorough selection and evaluation process, the charity stood out among over 500 UK contenders and received the accolade during a ceremony in central London on Thursday, May 16. Celebrating its 27th anniversary, the GSK IMPACT Awards, in partnership with The King’s Fund, acknowledge the remarkable efforts of small to medium-sized charities enhancing health and wellbeing across the UK. As the top recipient, Ivison Trust has been awarded £50,000 in unrestricted funding along with professional support and leadership training from The King’s Fund.
Child exploitation remains a critical issue, with groomers, gangs, and county lines networks affecting thousands of UK children annually. The Ivison Trust, formerly known as Parents Against Child Exploitation www.ivisontrust.org.uk, stands out as the only charity in the UK dedicated primarily to supporting parents grappling with the aftermath of their children’s sexual and criminal exploitation. Established in 1996 by Irene Ivison after the tragic murder of her daughter Fiona, who was groomed and sexually exploited, the charity has been a crucial support system for affected families.
The judges at the GSK IMPACT Awards recognized the Ivison Trust for its focused efforts to assist parents dealing with such profound crises. A 2016 study by the University of Worcester highlighted the severe impact on these parents: 88% reported that their child’s exploitation adversely affected their own health and wellbeing, nearly 40% considered suicide due to the ordeal, and 72% needed prescribed medication to manage their distress. GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at www.gsk.com
Ivison Trust provides a comprehensive array of services aimed at supporting parents and families affected by child sexual and criminal exploitation. These services include one-to-one intensive support, counseling, peer-led support groups, and a crisis hotline. Additionally, the charity educates professionals on responding to child sexual and criminal exploitation, modern slavery, and advocates for improved safeguarding practices to enhance child protection.
The charity employs 11 Parent Liaison Officers who are integrated within local authority Multi-Agency Safeguarding Teams. These officers, supported by local authorities, the NHS, and Police and Crime Commissioners, implement the charity’s Relational Safeguarding Model. This model positions parents as crucial partners in safeguarding, focusing on their involvement in the processes that protect the child, thereby enhancing the safety and wellbeing of the entire family.
Commenting on the win, Lindsay Dalton, CEO of Ivison Trust said:
“We are astounded and incredibly proud to be chosen as the overall winner from a group of outstanding charities working hard in the health and care sector. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly to improve the lives of families affected by child exploitation and this award win would not have been possible without them. This extra boost brings us closer to our aim of developing research and evidence to improve responses for children who have faced exploitation and their families.”
Sir Jonathan Symonds, Chairman, GSK said:
“The Ivison Trust is an extremely worthy overall winner of the 2024 GSK IMPACT Awards. With a small staff, they have successfully managed to expand their work nationwide to support hundreds of families affected by child exploitation each year. The judging panel was deeply impressed with the breadth of what Ivison Trust does, so I’d like to extend my congratulations to Lindsay and all the team.”
Sarah Woolnough, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund said:
“We are delighted to announce Ivison Trust as the overall winner of the 2024 GSK IMPACT Awards. With incidents of child exploitation increasing, more and more families are feeling the devastating impact of this harrowing crime. Ivison Trust puts the parents and families at the heart of its work and provides tailored support to keep families safe. As the only charity in the UK set up to support parents, Ivison Trust also works to improve safeguarding practice, trains professionals, and campaigns for change. We hope this win will support the charity as it continues its vital work to shine a spotlight on the impact of child exploitation.”
The King’s Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. It helps to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; developing individuals, teams, and organisations; promoting understanding of the health and social care system; and bringing people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Its vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.
For further information please visit www.kingsfund.org.uk
