Women’s Aid boosted by £333k grant
HOPE PROJECT LAUNCHED THANKS TO NATIONAL LOTTERY
A CHARITY that provides lifeline services to domestic abuse victims on Tyneside has been awarded a grant that will secure its future for five years.
Newcastle Women’s Aid (NWA) is celebrating after being selected to receive £333,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with women and girls in the city.
The charity, which is based in Newcastle city centre, will use the money to provide a specialist package of flexible support for victims and survivors over the next five years.
The grant will enable NWA to launch a scheme called The HOPE Project, which stands for Help, Options, Protection and Empowerment.
It aims to offer immediate help to those leaving abusive relationships followed by ongoing support to enable them to rebuild their lives. It will equip women with the tools they need to help them maintain and sustain safety, live independently, feel empowered, reduce and prevent further re-victimisation and make longer lasting meaningful changes to their lives.
Elaine Langshaw, CEO of NWA, said: “Now, thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to work to help more women and girls stay safe and survive domestic abuse and gain an understanding about the risks and impacts of all forms of domestic abuse.
“This is really important because it is only when we all understand it that we can then secure protection from it and keep each other safe. The need for our specialist services has never been more important, as we emerge from lockdown and women’s safety is being highlighted in our communities.”
The charity was founded in 1975 by five local people who opened a refuge for women and girls at risk of domestic abuse. It is staffed by four specialist support workers and four voluntary directors.
Its work has evolved from providing emergency refuge accommodation to supporting women throughout their road to recovery, however long that might take.
Elaine said: “This enables us to provide that ongoing support we know women and girls need. There’s a series of support interventions that can start at crisis point and continue throughout recovery and beyond.
“We know some women and girls will never, ever recover. But having a five-year opportunity to work with women gives us more chances of success.”
Donna Barnes, senior support worker at NWA, added: “Seeing the differences our work makes to the lives of women is incredible. We meet them at a point of crisis and despair and with the correct support they will often say ‘they now feel they have hope’ the women we work with are our inspiration. The National Lottery award is fantastic.”