Hope for the future

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 18^th 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.