The Stockton River Rat Race 2012

We have been mightily impressed by the determination of a number of our supporters who have committed themselves to crazy challenge events, raising funds for us. You're all MAD for A WAY OUT, and we love you!

The most recent challenge event was one that took place right on our doorstep - the Stockton River Rat Race. The 10K race involves splashing, jumping, kayaking and running, including a jump from the ship just outside of our office into the cool, deep waters of the river Tees.

The full team standing with the Mayor of Stockton

The preliminary warm-up exercises were very important...

Hands up in the air!

Liam doesn't seem to understand it's "Hands in the Air!"

Squats!

Push-ups

We managed to capture a few snapshots of our team near the end of the race, when they weren't swimming through the River Tees...

Near the finish line

Final Rat Race Obstacles

We met our racers at the finish line, and they did fantastically, and even had enough energy to give us a big grin at the end of it all.

We have also had volunteers who have been fundraising for us through Total Warrior again this year, with bungee jumps and more, and we are grateful to you all. Thank you for all you do - your activities help support our life changing work! (We hope you've had fun in the process... ;))

love from

A Way Out x

An Evening of Rags and Muffins

We held another of our popular Rags and Muffins events a few weeks back. This time, we hosted the event in an evening, different to our usual afternoon slot and naturally the evening oozed style, local talent and class! We had catwalks with fabulous models, dance groups, make-up artists, hair designers and more as well as gorgeous cupcakes and vintage clothes to rummage through.

One of our Rags and Muffins models.

Some of the team behind the event: Karen Heritage, Karen Heritage Dancers and Sarah-Jane our community fundraiser.

The Karen Heritage Dance Group in Action.

More from the Dance Group

All clothes that the models wore were for sale by Vintageous Rags, who sponsored the event.

Some of our lovely models from the catwalk.

One of our Rags and Muffins models.

Sarah-Jane, event co-ordinator and volunteer Tom, who compared the evening for us!

As you know, these events are more than just a good time, they're vital to our funds for our work to continue, and also helps us to raise awareness of who we are and what we do. On that note, we would like to take a moment to thank Asda in Thornaby, Stockton, for making us one of their charities of the month, and if you live in the area - we would love your support if you shop at Asda!

Thanks to all those who participated in our Rags and Muffins event, and to all those who came. We couldn't do it without you!

Love from A Way Out x

We Will Get There!

Our CEO, Jessie, regularly sends round updates to the staff team here at A WAY OUT, to inspire and motivate us, and to let us know what she's up to.  This week, she sent around the following email about we as an organisation respond to the challenges of being a charity in this current economic climate.  We thought we would share it with you.  It's a great read!

"I love my catch up’s with the team; hearing from the heart of the projects, listening to the journey that people are on, not just clients but the staff team too.  I love the culture in A WAY OUT, the community and family spirit, the “can do” attitude; the sense of team and the feeling that you are never it on your own, that we are all working together for one cause.
One expression I have heard many times over the years is “We’ll get there!”

We have always had big dreams and ambitions as a local charity.  We have high hopes for our clients, our projects and our organisation.  But the reality is this is an incredibly challenging environment to work in.  We are working with some of the most excluded people in society, with women and young people trapped in some of the most difficult situations. We are also operating in a time when pressures for professionalism and excellence increase whilst available funding is being reduced and therefore the sectors capacity to respond to these demands becomes tighter.

So how do A WAY OUT respond to these challenges? As we always have done; with Faith! With a knowledge that no-matter how great the challenge that is set before us, we WILL get there!

I was at a round table meeting last week at Whitehall, with the minster for civil society Nick Hurd (The guy behind the big society)
 
It was interesting to hear the story of many other small charities and the challenges that they faced around funding and external pressures.  What was particularly heartening though was that it was evident that this resilience you experience here at A WAY OUT, was so clear to see in many other organisations under the radar; smaller charity & community groups from all across the country, represented at this meeting.  These projects aren’t delivering services for financial gain, they are delivering services because there is a need and they want to be a part of offering a solution to that need.  They will exist no matter what. They will be entrepreneurial, resourceful, responsive and flexible.  They will be driven by their hearts and not the bottom line.  They are in fact (as a previous Big society report stated), the bedrock of our society; A civil society.  The issue though, is how we get the decision makers, our authorities and public servants to recognise exactly what the value of these organisations is to our society and communities. To recognise exactly what our value to our communities is.

All the work I am doing nationally is centred around being a voice for this sector; working to get projects just like ours to appear on the radar of decision makers.  To influence policy that could have a direct affect on either our service users, or on our ability to deliver services.  To look at how we work together with other similar organisations to strengthen each other, and maximise our impact.
It is not an easy task, we have some up-hill struggles and a tide of culture to turn, but I have learned one very important lesson over the last 10 years of leading a way out…

WE WILL GET THERE!"

Love from A Way Out x

Prostitution... Choice or Abuse?

As you're probably aware, A WAY OUT has been working with vulnerable women since we began as a charity 10 years ago.  Some of these women are involved in street prostitution and one of the issues we have faced in raising awareness and support for our work with these women, is that many people think that women who work on the streets have chosen to be there. The need for their support is therefore questioned. Through our work over the last 10 years in Stockton, we have observed a very different story...

Nearly all the women we work with don't want to be working on the streets, in fact, they are often victims of circumstance.  They have often had traumatic pasts which can include historical abuse and other personal trauma.  The work they do often supports not only themselves, but other people; boyfriends, landlords and so on.

There is a clear correlation that for many of these women, experiences as a child and young adult affect the choices they make in later life.  Some of our projects here specifically target that age group - teaching them healthy living, alcohol and drug awareness and befriending them, so these situations are minimalised.   Some of our projects work with women already in street prostitution, helping to improve their safety, and to refer them onto more specialised services to show them a way out.

Some people believe our support of these women is not needed, but in reality, these women are like you and me.  If you met them on the street, they could be your sister, cousin, mother, daughter.  All they want is to have a "normal" life; having a coffee with friends, going out for lunch, taking a trip to the cinema, but because of past life circumstances that can lead to addiction, these women have become engrained in a non-choice activity that is completely stigmatised by society.

To help you make a decision on whether these women need or deserve support, here's a statement from one girl, who we'll call Lucy.  When interviewed about her life and the link between her addiction and prostitution she said:
  "That is my life, in those bags over there.  I have got nothing.  Nothing.  We were just messed up kids looking for a buzz.  Nobody ever imagined it would end up like this.  I've ended up in prostitution through it and I feel like I am being abused, every time I go out there.  The men, they know you need your drugs and they will make you do anything. It's not right and it has to stop."

We believe this is abuse, not choice. And it has to stop.  What do you think?

If you're interested in finding out more about our work to help prevent sexual exploitation, then head over to our website and our 'become a friend to Katie' campaign.

We think it's good to discuss and debate important issues.

Love from A Way Out x

10 Years of A WAY OUT!

It's our 10th Birthday Today!

10 years ago today, a group of individuals with a passion to see freedom for those trapped in poverty, addiction and prostitution gathered together on a sofa and begun what is now known as A WAY OUT charity.  10 years later, A WAY OUT reaches on average over 1000 people per year in Stockton, through outreach, roadshows, schoolswork, crisis intervention work and more.  Through hot meals, workshops, craft sessions, courses, on the streets and in estates all over Stockton.

Reaching 10 years is an incredibly significant time for us.  It's an emotional time as we look back over the last 10 years; remembering conversations, moments, events, announcements and individuals.  The good times and the bad times. The celebrations and the commiserations. All the people we've reached, helped, and seen dramatic change in their lives. It's moving to remind ourselves of how many people we have seen changed, and how many individuals we need to thank for that change.  Volunteers, Staff, Supporters, Donors, Fundraisers and more.  Thank you for all you have done for A WAY OUT in the last 10 years.  We would not be where we are without you.  Thank you.

It's also an exciting time for us, turning 10 years old. We can't help but look forward in anticipation to what the next 10 years will hold. There are so many more people who do not yet know a way out in their lives.  People who are trapped in prostitution, drug or alcohol addiction, poverty, abuse and living on the streets.  There is so much more work to be done.  When we began in 2002, A WAY OUT reached out to around 100 people a year.  As we mentioned earlier, A WAY OUT now reach on average just over 1000 individual people through our various projects each year.  We want to reach 10,000 a year.  We want to see lives changed and people set free and helped through their poverty and addictions.

If you're reading this, you're one of the first to know that we are launching a campaign in conjunction with our 10th Anniversary.  It's called the 10:10 Campaign. We're looking back over 10 years, reflecting on all that's happened, thanking all those involved, and using this to look forward and inspire and develop the next 10 years. We are a growing charity. We want to continue to grow to meet and help more individuals in need. We are asking people to join us on that journey into the next 10 years.

Our 10:10 Campaign takes inspiration from John10:10 in the Bible; "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." We are campaigning to ask individuals to join us in helping more people have life to the full by supporting the work of A WAY OUT.  We are a Christian Charity and we specialise in engaging vulnerable and hard to reach women and young people. We use creative and innovative approaches to educate, support and empower these individuals to live safe, healthy and whole lives.  Life to the full.

Over the next few months, we'll explain how you can join in with our 10:10 campaign, and how you can further support the work of A WAY OUT. But for now, don't forget you can keep in touch with us on Twitter, or by following the #awo1010 campaign, on Facebook and sign up to our mailing list.  Thanks once again for your support, and joining us in the journey of the first 10 years. Hold tight - we're moving upwards for the next 10...

Love from A WAY OUT

Be the First to Know

At the moment, we're developing how we communicate to you, our supporters about the exciting things we are up to here, how people's lives are changing, how projects are developing, and what we are working towards.
Our our e-newsletters are now going monthly, and that's a great way to find out first, some of the key new developments in our charity.  Delivered straight to your inbox with a friendly, family approach, it's free to receive, and you can sign up right here:

Subscribe to the A WAY OUT newsletter.

If you're a supporter, a regular giver, a volunteer, a client, a link charity, or just curious - feel free to sign up to our newsletter, and we promise to only send you an email once a month, plus the occasional special invitation to an exciting event.  There will be no spamming, we promise!

Don't forget there will also be the usual weekly blogs, and regular twitter updates and facebook updates.

Celebrating the Jubilee

The week before last, our staff and groups were busy preparing and enjoying jubilee celebrations.  Our womens group made bunting, and our girls group made crowns, fit for the Queen.

Lizzie, who works in Education Development took some photos of the girls group that ran one evening, and has shared with us a bit about what the Girls Group on a Monday does:

"Girls group takes place every Monday evening. Girls range from age 10-15 and come from diverse backgrounds, some girls come from extremely deprived estates with a high crime and unemployment rate, and where drug & alcohol misuse is also at a high. Last week, we held a Jubilee party . It included a buffet made be our lovely volunteer Linda. It included cakes, scones, sandwiches and strawberries. We had Jubilee quiz, a competition who could make the best Crown and of cause we handed out Jubilee themed prizes!

Royal bunting decorating the drop-in centre

Delicious Royal Jubilee Cakes

Crown-Making is a Tricky Business

A Crown fit for a Queen

A Selection of Crowns, made by the Girls

Our girls group aims to: allow opportunity to make new friends, to provide diversionary activities to prevent risky behaviours, to provide a safe place for the girls to hang out, to identify any additional needs where A Way Out can help them further, and to provide simple fun and enjoyment. Each week we provide a hot meal & fresh fruit and the girls take it turns to cook. We play games, provide arts & crafts, chat, play on the Wii and it wouldn’t be a girls group without doing our hair, make-up, nails and have magazines to read!


It looks as though the girls group enjoyed a great party time, and suitably decorated the centre, (and themselves!) in preparation for the Queen's Jubilee.  We hope everyone else had a chance to enjoy the bank holidays!

Love from A Way Out x