A mum and her son from suffering abuse from his dad turned to a charity for help leaving the violent household.

James (not his real name) received support from the Leyland-based charity, Key Unlocking Futures who work with families to prevent conflict and homelessness.

The charity has now received more than £170,000 in National Lottery funding in time for Christmas to which will allow them to continue their crucial work for young people in Lancashire.

After growing up in a household filled with tension and violence, James made the decision to seek help from Key Unlocking Fututres when he began struggling with feelings of anger and frustration.

He said: “Through Key Unlocking Futures, I understand my behaviour much more. I was very emotional – angry, upset, and frustrated. I could get really angry out of nowhere and I didn’t understand why.

“Key Unlocking Futures gave me time to talk things out and helped me turn things into a positive. They made me understand for the first time that I had a future and that I didn’t have to be like my dad, which was my biggest fear.

“Even though my mum and I had lived in the same house all my life, we realised that we had experienced the abuse differently. By starting to recognise this, it helped us to listen more and be kinder to each other.”

With the help of the £170,000 funding, the charity says it will be able to help more than 130 families over the next three years through a combination of therapy and mediation, giving families a chance to discuss their problems in a calm, neutral environment.

The group will also support more than 700 young people at its drop-in centre over the same period, offering a welcoming space where young people aged 16-25 experiencing homelessness can receive practical and emotional support.

Research from national charity Centrepoint shows that almost 136,000 young people asked for help from their local council between 2022 and 2023 because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Ursula Patten, director of Key Unlocking Futures, said: “The families we work with come from a variety of backgrounds, but what they all have in common is conflict within the family which is starting to escalate.

“Our conflict mediation service is about trying to keep families together and preventing young people from becoming homeless.

"Christmas can be a very emotionally charged time for many families, and we aim to slow down the homelessness process and encourage discussion before it’s too late.

“Key Unlocking Futures is so grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund and players of the National Lottery.

"This funding will support families and young people going through tough times and help to prevent more people from becoming homeless.”

Gillian Halliwell, head of Funding for the North West at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “The run up to Christmas really puts the issue of homelessness among young people into perspective, which is why we’re proud to support organisations like Key Unlocking Futures, which are taking up such a vital role in helping families resolve their differences.

“Thanks to National Lottery players and the hard work and dedication of local groups like these, our funding is helping to strengthen society and improve lives across Lancashire and the wider UK.”