Seasons Greetings.

A Way Out has taken time this week with our clients, staff, volunteers, Trustees and Chaplains Sylvia and Linda, to remember how the birth of a baby, so many years ago, brought a message of love and hope on a global, national and personal level.

A minute was spent in silence a week earlier as we remembered girls lost.  We marked the global campaign to End Violence Against Sex Workers in an awareness raising event attended by our partner agencies along side our two local MPs, Alex Cunningham and Paul Williams and Cleveland Police Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger.

At the beginning of the month we celebrated on a national level as an award was presented to A Way Out in Westminster recognizing the charity as winner of the Inspire the House, Kids Count Community Group Award 2017.  It was an honour to raise the profile of the North East and to demonstrate how the community of Stockton-on-Tees supports A Way Out’s staff and volunteers to address issues, with our work grounded in practicality and realism, to make a positive difference.  Our thanks to MP Alex Cunningham for nominating the organisation and for his heart for Stockton.

This Christmas has been a exceptionally special one for the clients of A Way Out who have been so very moved, on a individually personal level, by the breathtaking generosity of our community of supporters – from single school pupils raising funds / gifts and food collections, to classes, year groups and whole schools working together to generate valuable contributions; church and community groups; office staff; local and national businesses; and individuals – each donation bringing with it a piece of genuine love and hope, the power of which is priceless and most definitely felt and appreciated personally by each of the vulnerable women, young people and families that we support.

Christmas blessings from all at A Way Out and a huge thank you to all who have supported the organisation in the past year.