This month A Way Out has something new to celebrate.

We are one of a partnership of six charities successful in securing funding to help women affected by recent and historic sexual exploitation and grooming across the whole of North East and Yorkshire.  This partnership, collectively known as The STAGE Project is led by Changing Lives and includes A Way Out, GROW, Together Women, Basis and WomenCentre Calderdale and Kirklees and will provide much needed longer-term support in eight local areas.

The STAGE Project will provide a range of 1-to-1 support, drop-ins and specialist group work programmes, as well as specialist work in custody.  The project will enable the voices of the women to be heard to influence policy, and support our criminal justice partners to bring perpetrators to justice.  This intensive support has been identified as essential in maintaining the engagement of victims during the investigation and prosecution process and in addition the project will also offer long-term support during the months and years following while the women work through their experiences of trauma and rebuild their future.

A Way Out’s involvement with The STAGE Project will operate in addition to our existing projects (Liberty, Blossom and Youth & Families Service) which will continue to provide outreach, intervention and prevention to vulnerable women, young people and families across Tees Valley.  The collaborative STAGE Project will not only support the nationally growing number of identified grooming victims but will also work towards producing a national safeguarding framework and best practice guidance in order to support female victims of sexual exploitation.

If you would like further information about our work or would like to support the charity, please do get in touch via www.awayout.co.uk or 01642 655071.