Catherine Marchant - Chief Executive at Impact Family Services
Why was the charity formed?
For over 40 years, Impact Family Services has been a beacon of safety and strength for people affected by domestic abuse. While we began in Sunderland and South Tyneside supporting separated parents through conflict, our services have since grown. Today, we address the complex effects of domestic abuse on individuals and families through a comprehensive network.
Moreover, we serve as a trusted lifeline. We stand alongside survivors as they reclaim confidence, rebuild lives, and create brighter futures. Central to our journey is a firm belief: no one should live in fear. Therefore, every family deserves the chance to heal, grow, and thrive in a safe environment.
Which services do you cover?
At Impact Family Services, we are here to provide compassionate, practical support for survivors, children, and families impacted by domestic abuse. Whether you need immediate help, a safe space to heal, or guidance to rebuild your life, our tailored services are designed to meet your unique needs and empower you to take the next step.
From one-to-one support for adults and young people to specialist programmes for children, we work with every member of the family to break the cycle of abuse and create brighter, safer futures. Our team is dedicated to walking alongside you every step of the way, offering the care and expertise needed to help you move forward with confidence.
What type of fundraising events do you have?
We do an enormous variety of different things. These include regular raffles, Christmas card competitions and our annual Golf Day at South Shields Golf Club.An exciting recent project was an exhibition in the Baltic where we auctioned 15 paintings by local children. A highlight of the night was also the donation of an original rivet from the Tyne Bridge by Esh Construction.
Who are your trustees and patrons?
Our board brings a wealth of skills to the table and are as follows…
Theresa Liddle, former Managing Director at NRG, Chair
Ashleigh Wright, Managing Director at Westray Recruitment
Ruth Brown, Headteacher
Sarah McKenna, Managing Director at Sarah McKenna HR
Andy Preacher, Corporate Affairs and Communications Director, AND-E.
Michael Christiansen, Head of Audit at Lloyds, Vice Chair
Zoe Blakemore, Corporate Lawyer
Ian Farrar, Far North
Kevin Wilson, Achieve Coaching
Joan Heckels, former Nurse and Magistrate
Steven Lincoln, former Family Lawyer
David Harker, Earsdon Professional Services, Treasurer.
What have been your proudest moments so far?
There are too many to list. The fact we help people every day from age 4 to 86 is tremendously rewarding.
Our contract with South Tyneside Council came to an end in January 2024 and could have been a disaster for our charity, but by ramping up grant funding we managed to keep all of our existing staff and retain the level of suport for clients, which was amazing. With our forward thinking board of trustees we are focused on consistently supporting as many people as we possibly can.
What have been your biggest challenges?
I have worked in the Charity sector for over 30 years and the environment we currently operate in is undoubtedly the toughest I’ve experienced. There is so much competition and getting local businesses to acknowledge and support a domestic abuse charity is difficult. To ease our reliance on grant funding, we set up our own Community Interest Company to develop our own income streams, but like all new businesses, it takes time to build the income.
What does the future hold?
Sadly the spectre of domestic abuse isn’t going to go away so our services will continue to be needed. We are supporting more clients from outside of South Tyneside and that will continue. The social enterprise arm of the business is a key area of growth for us both with our expanding child contact centre and our education products. An immediate consideration for us is re-introducing a behaviour change programme for DA perpetrators.
What are you currently working on?
We recently received a three year lottery grant so have brought in a family worker who will work with the families of the children and young people we support. We are also focusing on ramping up our workplace domestic abuse training for employers across the region.
www.impactfs.co.uk