This Post Needs No Introduction

Need I say more?

Love from A Way Out x

In the beginning...

You may have noticed that over the last couple of weeks we've been posting on YouTube an interview I did with Jessie, finding out a bit more about how A Way Out started and where is it going in the future. And you can now watch all three parts of the video right here:

Jessie talks her inspiration to found A Way Out and shares some of the stories that most impacted her decision.

So what happened next? How did the dream become a reality? How has it changed over the years?

And what's coming next?! A Way Out has an exciting future. Listen in to some of Jessie's dreams...

We don't think much more needs to be said here! Have a watch, get inspired and as always let us know what you think!

Love from A Way Out x

Give a Gift this Christmas

Have you seen the John Lewis Christmas TV Advert yet this year? If not, you really should check it out, it makes for good viewing. (The link to Youtube is here.)

At A Way Out, we love giving gifts to our clients. We know that it means so much for them and, unlike this video, many of them don't have cosy homes and families to go to where there will be an abundance of presents under the tree.

You'll remember that in our last blog, we told you about our plans for Christmas this year, to bring hope and love this year. Although we are doing everything that we told you about in that blog, we have not received the number of donations of gifts that we were expecting. This means that some people will be going without gifts this year. We really, really do not want this to happen!

If you think you could help us and make such a difference to the lives of at risk and vulnerable women and young people then there are a few ways you can do this:

1. Buy a gift for a woman, teenage girl or teenage boy and drop it off at The Gate, 1-2 Castlegate Quay, The Riverside, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1BZ

2. Donate directly to A Way Out via http://www.justgiving.com/Jessie-Jacobs0

3. Text 'LOVE92 £5' to give £5 which will use to buy a present for somebody.

Thank you so much for reading this.

Love from A Way Out x

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

I read on Twitter this morning:

"Do not be afraid" appears in the bible 366 times - once for every day of the year (including leap years!)*

At A Way Out we don't believe that anyone should need to fear for their lives, for their health, for their children, for their safety, for their future...

Especially as we are looking forward to Christmas these fears seem to come to the fore. Christmas is traditionally a time of hope, joy, peace and love but all too often this is not the case. We will be keeping our offices open across the festive period to make sure that there is always a place to go.

We are running a whole range of activities in the next couple weeks to make sure that this is a really special time for people, a time to celebrate and have fun. For a low-down on what our girls group is going to be doing you can have a read of our latest newsletter here.

Our preventions team are also busy planning the week before Christmas which will be crammed full of activities. It's shaping up to be a great week:

Monday- bag packing at Morrissons supermarket to raise awareness and funds for A Way Out.

Tuesday- a trip to see the musical Oliver! at the Arc, Stockton.

Wednesday- Giant Christmas movie afternoon

Thursday- Christmas party which includes food, grafitti workshops, arts and crafts, games, prizes and maybe even a visit from Santa!

We know that spending quality time with vulnerable and at risk women and young people is so important and A Way Out can make all the difference in a young person's life. These are some of the things our project workers have been told this week:

Hello, just sat here chilling a just want to say thank you 4 everything, just wanted to mgs u and let u no i look forward when we meet, thanks 4 everything  x x

I don't know where I would be in life now if it wasn't for you and all your hard work at away out! I really appreciate everything u have done for me and thanks for having confidence in me and in what I do and thanks so much for sending me the right way in life! You do so much for people most the time you don't relies you do it even the little things mean a lot to me so thank you so much just to say thanks xxxxxxxxx 

Thank you for working at away out and been there for me and my friends it means a lot to know we have people we can always talk too :) 

Wow. We're really excited about Christmas at the Gate. We'll be getting back to you to let you know how it's gone and to show you all the photos!

Love from A Way Out x

*tweet by @nickygumbel

How I Found A Way Out

This is the audio track mentioned on our last blog. It doesn't need much introduction, just give it a listen, it gives an amazing insight into the difference A Way Out can make to young peoples' lives, told by those who have experienced it first hand.

If you have been moved by hearing these stories and want to help make a difference then there are lots of ways to get involved. Visit our website to find out about volunteering, fundraising or giving.

Love from A Way Out x

Keeping it Short and Sweet

This week the blog is short and sweet.

We've started sending an e-newsletter every few months to our supporters to let them know all the exciting things we've been up to. 

We think you'd love it. 

Click on the picture below to read our latest and if you don't want to miss out, click to subscribe in the top left hand corner.

Happy reading :-)

Love from A Way Out x

A flurry of Rags and Muffins

We're in the middle of two Rags and Muffins at the moment- one ran in Yarm last weekend and the next one is in Middlesbrough in just over a week. So the fundraising office is currently full of clothes, shoes, price tags and posters!

Here are some of the pictures from last week to whet your appetite for Saturday 8th October:

A cup of tea of coffee for 50p? What a bargain!

Chocolate orange cupcakes from The Cupcake Pixies

 

At the heart of everything we do; bringing hope, freedom and wholeness to women and young people

Things are well under way at Hide Bar

Earrings from Bean Designs went down a treat!

Rummaging for the best bargains

Beth seems to be enjoying herself!

 

With the The Cupcake Pixies, event sponsors and Sandra from the Soroptimists

Yarm Rags and Muffins was a relaxed affair with gorgeous cupcakes, beautiful clothes and a lovely stall of home-made gifts from Bean Designs. On Saturday 8th October there will be all of this and more! Bucks Fizz reception, fashion show, dance acts, stalls from local businesses, charity cocktails.... All for a mere £5 (£3 for NUS) and all to raise money to help those most at need.

What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. We'll see you there!

Love from A Way Out x

It's a new look, but the same heart.

Here at A Way Out we've been having a bit of a makeover.

We've just got started and there's more to come. You'll be seeing these changes in our publicity, on our website and in our communications. It's an exciting time to be at A Way Out and we think that our new imagery matches that vibe. We still have the same big heart for the people of Teesside and we're still passionate about Reaching, Changing and Saving lives. 

This heart is a picture of what A Way Out stands for. Clients we work with come from all sorts of backgrounds and can feel exploited, abandoned, abused, rejected, angry, lonely, hopeless, lost, trapped... We want to break into their situations and mend broken hearts, bringing love, hope, freedom, joy, education, wholeness, empowerment, a sense of direction, safety... the list goes on!

We love seeing lives being completely transformed and that is something that we really do see every day! We want more and more people to hear these stories and our new look is all part of helping us get that message across.

This is our new logo and tagline that you will start seeing from now on:

What do you think about this new look? We'd love to get your feedback! Leave a comment here or on Facebook or Twitter.

Love from A Way Out x

Rags and Muffins and some...

You may have already heard about all the new fundraising events we've been running this year. From golfing days to gig nights and tea parties to Total Warrior, there's something for everyone.

Some of the bargains up for grabs at Rags and Muffins

Sarah Jane (Community Fundraiser) and I (Jenny- Assistant Fundraiser) started work a few months ago at A Way Out and we've been working hard to put on some of the most exciting events in the area. Our first big event was Rags and Muffins, a jumble sale with a twist, held in the Dickens Inn in Middlesbrough. There were clothes rails crammed full of designer items at bargain prices, a champagne reception, scrumptious cupcakes and a catwalk show.

The day was a huge success, so much so that we promptly booked ourselves another date at the Dickens Inn to do the whole thing all over again. October 8th- keep the date free!

3 Foot Ninja entertaining

We followed up Rags and Muffins with a gig night, the first of many, at Doctor Browns in Middlesbrough. 3 Foot Ninja, fresh from INTRO festival were headlining and didn't disappoint with their energetic line up. The Graft supported with front man Pete Haley, our own multi-talented youth worker at A Way Out.

These events are lots of fun to organise and to attend but they're about more than just having a good time. Events raise vital awareness and funds for A Way Out which is so important to ensure the charity has a healthy future. Only last week we were able to rescue a girl from sexual exploitation and she now has a job, a home, friends and hope for the future; but that wouldn't be possible without events like this and the support of our friends.

Rummaging for bargains at Rags and Muffins

Delicious cupcakes provided by Truly Scrumptious cake designers

We'd love you come along to Rags and Muffins and gig nights to show your support- thank you so much if you've already done so! But we'd also love to see people engaging with what we're trying to do in Teesside whether that's by volunteering, joining our mailing list, following our blog, tweeting @awayoutcharity, joining our Facebook community, or simply telling your friends about us.

If you want to show support financially then our CEO, Jessie Joe is competing in Total Warrior in just one months time! This is a gruelling 10k test of stamina and mental determination set in the unforgiving Lake District terrain. Her aim is to raise £2000 for A Way Out and if you could contribute just a small amount towards that target then it could make all the difference. For every £1 we receive, we can fill a food parcel on a Monday afternoon with basic items that will feed someone for a week who may not otherwise get the balanced diet they need. You can give here and next month we'll show you the photos of Jessie's day out!

Well done for making it to the end!

Love from A Way Out x