A fund is being raised to provide mental health support to the 15-year-old girl who was viciously beaten outside a school in what police are investigating as a racially-motivated attack.
Cheryl Phoenix, founder of the Black Child Agenda and working with the family of the schoolgirl, says she is “barely eating or speaking” after the horrific incident at Thomas Knyvett school in Ashford, Surrey.
Five people were arrested on suspicion of attempted racially aggravated grievous bodily harm, including a 39-year-old woman and two girls aged 11 and 16.
A 43-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the incident and another 16-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications.
All five suspects have now been bailed to return to the police station in March while police continue to search for a sixth suspect - a 15-year-old girl who has been encouraged to hand herself in to authorities.
But while an investigation is underway, Cheryl says that measures need to be taken to help girl who was attacked get the support she needs after the video went viral across the world.
Cheryl said: “This has gone global. Friends and associates have had this [video] sent to them from America, from the Caribbean and from Africa. So it's gone around the world.
“And so, to be the person who everyone recognises on a video at such a young age as well, it can be daunting.
“It is a lot for a young person to take on.
“We feel that mental health and well being support is very important.
“Having been attacked, that's gonna definitely have a detrimental impact on any child.
“Mental health and wellbeing thereafter is going to be something that needs to be addressed now.”
Cheryl says the funds raised will go towards paying for the support which she says can cost up to £150 per hour.
She said: “Because we know that these things do cost money, and the family may not have the resources to be able to cover those costs because some of them are £150 an hour.
“This is going to be long term. I can see it will be long term for her to be able to you know come to terms with what's happened and be able to get on with life.
“But we don't know what could take place with regards to anxiety or anything moving forward for her to be able to go to school.”
Alarming figures revealed by the Sunday Mirror showed that a total of 7,403 school pupils were suspended last year over incidents including racially motivated assaults, vile language and social media taunts.
Cheryl’s organisation helps parents from the African and Caribbean community who face issues of discriminations in schools.
The activist says that incidents such as this aren’t new and that she has dealt with cases that "could bring you to tears."
She said: “This isn't new with regards to violence and discrimination that goes on that we deal with within UK schools.
“Our organisation is here to support parents who find that there's an issue with regards to children from the African Caribbean community in particular.
“So we're here to represent because if there was a fair representation out there, then our organisation wouldn't have to exist.”
So far, the GoFundMe has raised £2918 out of the £5000 goal.
For more information, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/ensure-child-a-receives-mental-health-support?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
