Children in Need is back on our screens on 15th November. We speak to two charities that its donations have helped over the years.
Countless children face many obstacles that hinder their potential and wellbeing. Luckily, there are organisations dedicated to supporting these vulnerable youths that are making a significant difference. Two of these charities are Club Tikva and Mekimi which both provide impactful support to children facing challenges in their everyday life.
Club Tikva is an after-school multi activity group for children that provides a safe environment for those who have difficulties with social and communication skills. The charity hosts relaxed, friendly groups for children to enjoy activities geared to social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.
Ros Burland, one of the group leaders, tells us about the charity’s history: “There was a place just outside of Manchester called Delamere which was a residential school for kids, that closed around 14 years ago. Tikva was formed when Shana Lapidus – one of the staff from Delamere – knew that there had to be somewhere else for these kids to go.”
Club Tikva helps children who find school difficult and gives them a safe space to transition from a tough day into a safe, welcoming, and loving place: “We aren’t just a babysitting service; we teach important skills such as self-regulation and socially acceptable behaviour as well as praising the kids and building their self-esteem. We also talk a lot about friendship, patience, and being kind in a world that a lot of our kids don’t understand very well.”
The Club Tikva children are given a safe space where they can eat, play games, and chat: “Circle time is an important feature of the groups. We sit, talk, and express ourselves to make sure the kids are getting in touch with their feelings. A lot of the kids don’t know how they’re feeling themselves, so it’s hard for them to show empathy towards others. Some children need extra educational lessons; ours need extra social skills development.”
The team at Club Tikva love hearing the overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, as well as success stories from the groups. Ros tells us: “We had a girl that turned 18 and didn’t want to leave us. She ended up coming back to help, which was great as she understood the kids’ challenges because she’d been through them herself. We love stories like this because it shows real progression.”
Another community charity supported by Children in Need is Mekimi, which provides essential support to children and families that have lost a parent at a young age. Mekimi offers care packages, emotional support, trips, activities, magazines, and more.
Rabbi Aron Litwin, a Psychotherapist and Co-founder of Mekimi, shares: “I lost my dad when I was a teenager, and I always wanted to be there for kids going through what I did. Mekimi started when a friend told me about two girls who had lost their dad to COVID and wanted to help others too.”
Initially, Mekimi began by sending care packages to children: “It was grassroots, but the response was overwhelming, and people were so appreciative. It took me back to my own loss. I found that there’s so much support at first, but eventually it quietens down and you feel so alone. I wanted to make sure no other kids ever felt like that.”
Mekimi tailors its programs to the family’s needs, especially around tough times like holidays and Chagim. Aron explains: “Chanukah candle lighting is a particularly challenging time when grieving a parent, so we send the kids eight surprise boxes — one for each night — to help bring a little joy and care during a painful time.”
Aron also highlights a recent ‘yizkor companion’ that Mekimi created where helpful volunteers helped to prepare the packages (pictured), which received incredible feedback: “We made leaflets that helped people to learn about the prayer’s context and how to conduct it correctly.”
The Mekimi kids cherish the trips that the charity organises, Aron tells us: “Being with others who truly understand their pain is healing like nothing else. Even when we’re having fun, there’s this deep, unspoken bond that connects us all, that makes all the difference. Just being around others who’ve lost a parent brings so much comfort. It reminds them that, no matter how tough it gets, they’re never really alone — and that’s the greatest feeling of all.”
Above all, Aron emphasises that showing care and being present for these children is what truly makes the difference. He explains: “A kid called me recently, so excited to tell me they’d passed their driving test. When I told them it so nice they called me and told me, they said: ‘Who else really cares?’ It was such a powerful reminder of how much it matters to just be there.”
Mekimi.co.uk Clubtikvamanchester@gmail.com