Somebody's Daughter

 

At A Way Out, we work with many different women. Women who sell sex for survival, women who need support, young women, girls, and are a staff force mainly of women. We are all at least one of the following: A mother, a sister, a daughter, an aunt.

The fear of walking alone after dark is something many of us can resonate with. The death of Sarah Everard, who was killed walking home at night, was a manifestation of this deep fear becoming a reality.

Working together, we do all we can to keep clients and staff safe. We ensure clients are aware of the risks and give out personal safety alarms – something we shouldn’t have to do. We live in a world where women are the ones taking responsibility for not being attacked, and when they are, are often told they should have done something to prevent it from happening. They shouldn’t be out after dark, they shouldn’t have worn that outfit. They shouldn’t be a sex worker.

Our team have been a great support to so many women across Teesside. We have created a bridge in a gap between sex workers and the police, supporting clients to report sexual assaults. It should never be a question of if someone is a sex worker. Sexual assault is assault regardless, and our staff stand together women to women to ensure their voices are heard.

We are an advocate for safety for all women regardless. We want to ensure we are supporting our clients, and those across Teesside who need their voices amplifying.

If you would like to know information about the support, we offer or make a donation please contact us at info@awayout.co.uk or ring 01642 655071.

By Hannah Dodsworth - Administrator

A Message of Thanks

 

How do you say thank you?  A quick thanks and a hug (back when hugs were permitted)?  A card through the post?  A bunch of flowers?  Or something personal which you know will express your gratitude in a very special way?

 

For the staff of A Way Out receiving a thank you from a client is always extra special, it means that a life has been empowered and changed, that a woman or young person now recognises the value of their own potential and self-worth and that their future will not be directed by past experience of crisis, difficulties or disadvantage.

 

Last month one of the young women who is engaged with A Way Out’s Blossom project received support whilst struggling with difficult life circumstances.  The young women was so impacted by the patience and care shown by her case worker that she too wanted to make a positive impact in the lives of other girls.  By arranging a fundraising campaign on-line the young woman raised £90 for the Blossom Project – giving such a sense of achievement and purpose, and a real boost to her own self confidence, whilst knowing she is helping the project to continue to support others.  We were so touched by the effort this young woman put into the fundraising – this was a huge lift to staff and clients alike!

 

If you would like to know more about how you could help support A Way Out, please get in touch via info@awayout.co.uk, or 01642 655071.

A Positive Impact

 

The ‘asset based’ support that A Way Out provides across all of our services, focussing and building upon the strengths of each individual client, is an approach we know is really effective.  This focus brings a real sense of achievement and helps each person to view their future with a real sense of hope and assurance. 

This attitude has spread beyond just our support of clients as the whole charity has embraced an asset based approach across the whole organisation.  We have changed and developed service delivery and operations to comply with restrictions, whilst ensuring that we concentrate on what we can do (rather than what we can’t).  This approach has ensured that A Way Out continues to support women in our area who are experiencing multiple difficulties and also local young people and families undergoing their own personal challenges.

Out in the community we see examples every day, all around us, people embracing what can be done to make a positive impact on the future of others.  Whilst we are out undertaking socially distanced welfare checks and delivering crisis parcels we have loved seeing many people in our local area incorporating litter picking into their daily walk, focussing upon what they can do as individuals to make our world a better place for us all to live in.

 Last month a young supporter of A Way Out considered his strengths and what he could do from his own home to raise essential funds for the organisation … and the result was amazing – an on-line quiz enjoyed by his family and friends, £150 raised for the charity and a huge sense of personal achievement! 

We would love to encourage others to follow this young man’s example – consider what you can do, think creatively for your community, contact A Way out on 01642 655071 or info@awayout.co.uk.  We would love to hear from you!