Aberdeen Standard Investments’ Charitable Foundation pays out £10.6K in a single donation

Claire Drummond

Funding for London-based Body & Soul will support projects to help improve adopted children’s prospects at school through nurturing and developing the right skills, confidence and connections.

Through Future Foundations it runs away days where youngsters experience outdoor adventures like time on a farm or on board a sailing boat, designed to build confidence and show their own special talents.

Children adopted from the care system are among the most disproportionately affected in society by adverse childhood experiences, and Adoption UK says they up to 20 times more likely to be excluded from school than non-adopted peers.

Body & Soul works with young people in every London borough and its own assessment found adopted children it supports have had on average more than five adverse childhood experiences, like abuse, neglect, illness, family bereavement and relational dysfunction.

Helen Watson, fundraising and partnerships manager for Body & Soul said: “Adverse childhood experiences cause a build-up of toxic stress which presents as anger, aggression, poor mental health, violence, risky and inappropriate behaviours, ADHD, attachment disorders and learning difficulties.

These needs cause significant barriers to engagement with education –100 per cent of adopted children we have worked with have been excluded from school. Our Aberdeen Standard Investments’ Charitable Foundation funded project, Future Foundations, will disrupt this negative cycle. It will support adopted children aged 8-12 living in London by providing ‘Away Days’ helping them to build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to thrive throughout their school journey and beyond.”

Claire Drummond, head of charitable giving for Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: “Body & Soul indicated our support allows its project to address the devastating effects of childhood trauma and support adopted children to acquire skills to become successful in school and beyond. This supports our shared vision of creating a positive and meaningful impact in our community by supporting disadvantaged children to build the necessary foundations for a brighter and happier future.”

Body & Soul has supported children, young people, and families whose lives have been devastated by trauma, adversity, and abuse, for the last 22 years. The charity’s research shows 92 per cent of children find Body & Soul a space where they feel comfortable to talk about adoption in and 85 per cent say they have learnt a technique which has helped them better manage their emotions through Future Foundations.

The Aberdeen Standard Investments Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 to formalise and develop the Group’s charitable giving globally. The Foundation seeks partnerships with smaller charities around the world, where funds can be seen to have a meaningful and measurable impact. It encourages its employees to use their time and skills to support its charitable projects.