At A Way Out We Support

At A Way Out we support our clients, be they women, young people or families – all year round – and we make sure that we celebrate with them landmarks in their progress – this could be a young mum gaining the self-esteem to confidently step outside of her own home and attend an appointment unaccompanied; a young person having the courage to forget their past and follow their dreams;  a young woman securing accommodation of her own and living independently; or a woman celebrating freedom from drug addiction.  Each milestone is a victory to rejoice in and a moment to be remembered.

It is often the small things that make a real difference to how someone can be feeling – whether they are struggling with a bad day, or excited over a personal victory.  Receiving an unexpected gift can be that one thing that makes a huge difference to their day.  Sometimes that gift can be as simple as being on the receiving end of a kind smile, a friendly nod and a simple ‘Hello’.

Being in the position to pass on a gift, especially when it is unexpected, is a real ‘feel good’ moment – both for the giver and the receiver.

Here’s a challenge to be that person who lifts the spirits of others, to be that person who offers a kindly smile and make a change someone’s day.

Each year at A Way Out we aim to collect around 200 donated chocolate eggs to gift our clients to help to lift their spirits at Easter and let them know that they are loved.  If you would like to help by contribute  an egg or make a donation towards the work of A Way Out please get in touch via our email info@awayout.co.uk or 01642 655071.

International Women's Day

International Women’s Day this week is an opportunity for women to look back and celebrate all that we have achieved so far. It is also an excellent platform to use as a catalyst for further change and gender equality; to reach out and embrace womanhood across the globe and across the North East.

The theme this year is “Press for Progress” a call to action to press forward and progress gender parity.

At A Way Out we are very aware of the girls and women who struggle to realise their true potential. We are aware of the harm, trauma, sexual exploitation and abuse that many women experience and are still subjected to. We advocate, support and strive every day to empower women and girls enabling them to speak up, speak out, recover and realise their ambitions.

Over the next two weeks A Way Out staff and volunteers will be celebrating with the women and girls with whom we work in order to recognise women’s life journeys  and achievements made to date. We will take time out to recognise those who fought for our right to vote and will be showing the Suffragette film. The women with whom we work with will also be encouraged to recognise and celebrate their own achievements and accomplishments. We will be joining together to identify the work that is still left to be done to bring about true gender parity.

A Way Out will be delivering specially themed workshops focussing upon the issue of sexual exploitation and the learning from Operation Sanctuary.  The workshops will inform our local service delivery, alongside providing a safe space for women to share their own experiences and to galvanise collective action to bring an end to this exploitation.

A Way Out’s Staff, volunteers and clients will be joining in the movement to “press for progress”.

“The Story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights” Gloria Steinem.