2020 marks the year in which A Way Out will come of age, in
June the organisation celebrates 18 years of supporting the area’s most
vulnerable women, young people and families.
For a local charity 18 years is an achievement, it is testament to the
support received over the years; it is also testament to the need that has not
abated... in fact it seems to be increasing.
Last year the organisation successfully geographically
expanded working in partnership with the Prison service as ‘Sex Work Lead’ supporting
women across the whole of Durham Tees Valley; an A Way Out worker in the PCC
DIVERT team working to reduce the incidence of recidivism across the Teesside
area and has a key role in an expansive
North East wide service supporting sexually exploited females through the STAGE
project. As an organisation we focus on
asset based support and empowerment.
This expansion brings a ‘bitter/sweet’ feeling – whilst pleased
that the expertise of A Way Out is acknowledged and recognised throughout many
statutory and voluntary partner agencies across the region, the reality of
hearing at first hand the full extent of the impact of historic and current
trauma can be difficult. The area rates
high in national statistics which identify Middlesbrough as the lowest of 346
local UK authorities in the ‘worst place to be a girl’ statistics (Plan
International 2016).
As A Way Out makes plans to celebrate its 18th
year we would invite you to join us in raising the profile of the area in a
positive way, a profile which highlights community support, strength and
commitment to inspiring and enabling optimistic hope for the future. You can do this by choosing to support the
organisation financially or by volunteering.
Further details can be found via www.awayout.co.uk
or ringing 01642 655071.
