This Sunday, Perth Glory players will be wearing black armbands to show their support for the club’s charity partner, Parkerville Children and Youth Care.
This Sunday, Perth Glory players will be wearing black armbands to show their support for the club-s charity partner, Parkerville Children and Youth Care.
Parkerville Children and Youth Care is a Western Australian not-for-profit organisation that works with children, young people, and their families, who have suffered trauma from abuse. It was established in Parkerville, Western Australia in 1903 but now operates in the Murchison, Wheatbelt and Perth Metropolitan regions of Western Australia, working with over 1800 children and young people annually through its programmes and services.
Parkerville established Australia-s first Child Advocacy Centre in Armadale, Western Australia in March 2011, a specialised treatment centre for children, young people, and their families who have suffered trauma from abuse, and continues to have a strong relationship with Perth Glory since the Hyundai A-League’s inception in 2005.
Chief Executive Officer of Parkerville, Basil Hanna, is the former President of the Glory Shed Supporters Group and has praised the relationship between Parkerville and Glory in helping to increase awareness of the organisation and the extent of child abuse in today-s society.
“We’ve had a relationship with Perth Glory and that relationship has enabled us to raise the profile of the work we do,“ said Hanna.
Glory continue to sponsor their annual kids- fun run ‘Spring Forward’, assisted with player appearances and merchandise donations, as well as fundraising lunches, game day signage and many more initiatives.
“Yeah, over the years we have a fun run called Spring Forward. It doesn’t raise money but it raises profile and tells people about what abuse is,” said Hanna. “The Glory has been at every single one of those and we’re entering our 7th year next year.“
“The association raised our profile so people knew Parkerville and what they do and that’s worth a lot more than money to us because it opens up what child abuse is all about.”
Hanna is also very confident that Perth Glory can edge out Adelaide United this weekend at nib Stadium.
“They might as well change the ladder now. Three points in the bag,” Hanna said.
“Glory will come out and play for the shirt and play for the fans.”
This weekend’s match against Adelaide United will be officially sponsored by Parkerville so make sure you donate to any of the tin rattlers before the game at nib Stadium on Sunday. Your donation will help change and restore the lives of children in Perth.
Facts about child abuse in Australia
• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be abused before they reach 18 years of age, that-s 10% of Australian children
• 90% of them will know their abuser
• 70% of those who are sexually abused will not disclose until later in life, if at all
• 40% will go on to commit serious criminal offenses
• Trauma from abuse impedes the developmental pathways in a child-s brain, which can result in cognitive, emotional or physical disability. However, with therapeutic intervention the effects of the trauma can be completely reversed and the child returned to full health
More information at www.parkerville.org.au
Click here to see a video on some of the great work Parkerville continues to do.
