Simple gestures

I received a personal card through the post this week from a friend who I hadn’t seen for a while.  She wrote that she wanted me to know that I had just popped into her thoughts and that she was thinking about me.  I was touched to receive this sentiment and to know that I had been important enough for her to find a card, put pen to paper and walk to a post box.  A simple gesture with a powerfully positive impact, with no strings attached and no demand for reciprocation.  The rest of my day was a normal one - some things went well and some things went not so well - but within the small moment of receiving and opening the card my spirits lifted, I smiled and I felt loved.

For many of the female clients working with A Way Out’s Liberty and Blossom services it helps to know that our workers and volunteers are offering unconditional support and that as an organisation we have ’love’ at the very core of our values.  We also actively encourage peer support to embed this culture - mutual support amongst our wellness sessions is a key element to encouraging a more positive outlook.  Recently within these wellness sessions our clients have enjoyed creating beautiful cards and small gifts portraying positive messages as encouragement for others.  In the coming months we hope that these items will be available to purchase to raise funds for A Way Out and to help us to bring a little love to the streets of Stockton.  Look out for further information about this on A Way Out’s facebook page and website www.awayout.co.uk.

A Way Out is also currently recruiting a team of volunteer Community Fundraisers to support the organisation and help to ‘spread the love’.  Full training and support will be provided.  For more information and an application form: https://www.awayout.co.uk/get-involved/jobs/

Monitoring and evaluation

is a phrase that causes even the most diligent of us to experience that sinking feeling with thoughts of statistics, identification of outputs and outcomes (and the difference between the two!).  However, the process is essential for the success of any organisation or service…. indeed even the bible tells us ‘test everything and hold fast to what is good’ (1 Thes 5:21).

A Way Out has been continually monitoring the delivery of our Liberty and Blossom Services adjusting and adapting support to ensure that we are meeting the real needs and issues of our clients and effecting positive change.  This month we held two important Evaluation Events sharing our findings with partner agencies to raise awareness and advocate for the specific and often unique needs of the women we support – ie young women at-risk of exploitation, and women whose lives have already been impacted by historic trauma which has directed their entry into survival sex work.

The evaluation depicts A Way Out’s clients as remarkably resilient women, for many daily survival demands a huge degree of personal strength.  A Way Out’s approach is trauma informed and asset based – we ‘test everything and hold fast to what is good’ – A Way Out acts as a ‘critical adult’ supporting the women to identify negatives, and recognise, embrace and employ their inner abilities and strengths, focusing upon positive attributes to ensure confident future hope.  The evaluation results show clearly the effectiveness of the support provided by our Liberty and Blossom services which is best described in the words of the clients themselves – 

‘I love coming here, I was sick of my life, coming to A Way Out is great' 

'I had no confidence, I felt incapable – not now though because of Blossom – the work we do, learning new things, seeing things from different perspectives'  

'the service has made such a difference to my life, honestly, I’m a different person'

To support our work either by volunteering or fundraising, please go to www.awayout.co.uk or contact info@awayout.co.uk / 01642 655071.

Graduation Time

With graduation ceremonies taking place across the country, A Way Out’s Liberty Service held its own graduation for women attending our drop-in who completed a 6-week Empowerment Programme. 

The drop-in specifically supports vulnerable women facing a range of difficulties and circumstances and this intensive programme focussed specifically upon boosting self-esteem and strengthening the ‘inner adult’ through identifying personal strengths and assets. 

The programme began by mapping individual timelines, focussing upon past, present and future.  The women acquired skills in cooking with ‘store cupboard staples’ – one successful graduate commented, ‘I always thought that eating healthy was too expensive’ but with newly acquired knowledge and skills this has now become part of her everyday life.

Alongside self-empowerment activities, the programme also focussed upon the needs of others experienced through the benefits of peer support and raised awareness on specific issues such as women lost to honour based violence. 

A session entitled ‘Beautiful Minds’ encouraged women to identify and speak out five beautiful things about themselves, for some, due to past experiences and trauma, this was one of the most difficult sessions.  The women then identified five beautiful things to do for others and reported back the following week.

The programme concluded with goal planning incorporating strategies to overcome personally identified obstacles such as breathing techniques to assist in anxious situations.

At the graduation celebration many women feedback improved mental health since attending the programmme and identified future aspirations including the hope of gaining food hygiene and first aid qualifications.  A Way Out’s Liberty team have sprung into action arranging for these courses to take place in the coming months.

The success of the programme could not have been achieved without volunteer support and essential food donations – for which the women who took part are extremely grateful.

If you would like to know more about the work of A Way Out please go to www.awayout.co.uk, or contact 01642 655071 or info@awayout.co.uk.

The bigger picture...

It’s good to step back to look at the ‘bigger picture’… even better when there’s an opportunity to influence this on a national level.  This month A Way Out’s CEO, Sarah McManus, met in London in partnership with 5 other charities with Amber Rudd, Secretary of State and Will Quince, Minister for Family Support, Housing & Child Maintenance.  This invitation came following Sarah providing evidence in Westminster at a Select Committee discussing issues around universal credit and direct links to the increase in women involved in survival sex work.

A Way Out was invited in recognition of its expertise in this area and the part the charity plays in reshaping and bringing about change for vulnerable women, young people and families in this region.  We are proud that A Way Out ensures the voices of those we work with in Tees Valley are heard and can be instrumental in influencing the development of this system.

Collectively several concerns were raised including the delay between application and receipt of money and the impact of sanctions, demonstrating the difficulty for people to survive during these periods – a current direct influence upon offending rates and women moving into sex work.  Sarah also emphasised the complexity of the system for those already struggling with a range of challenges and vulnerabilities and this was also reflected in other areas of the country.  Highlighting the wider context, attention was drawn to the increased need for emergency food parcels and the Children’s Society prediction that by 2020 there will be 5 million children living in poverty in the UK  - all underpinning and reinforcing the hardship that this benefit is causing to some of the most vulnerable in our community, the very people it was intended to provide a safety net against such poverty.

The hope is that this is the start of ongoing conversations with agencies and charities in order to positively improve the current system.

By supporting A Way Out and you too are making a difference and be part of the bigger picture.  Find us at  www.awayout.co.uk / info@awayout.co.uk / 01642 655071.

Mental Health Awareness

Last month A Way Out embraced Mental Health awareness with a 360 degree approach. 

Our Youth Service has focused upon wellness sessions delivered to local schools using soft meditation, creating ‘identity stones’ and encouraging peer support.  This has introduced the young people to effective coping strategies to support each individual in managing stress and anxieties related to personal and school life. 

A Way Out also supports female clients whose lives may have be affected by complex mental health needs some experiencing trauma generated from childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual exploitation.  We take a ‘trauma informed’ approach to support provided, with full consideration for each client’s individual experience of trauma and damage, as we support each to recovery and a future of security and hope. 

A Way Out also recognises that in order to provide effective support to clients and young people our staff and volunteers also should be well in themselves.  This month we devised and promoted a wellbeing programme for staff and volunteers detailing a menu of available options to support wellbeing at work including recognition of symptoms of stress and offering a selection of stress busting techniques provided by our in-house Psychotherapy Service.  Simple techniques such as concentrating on breathing, meditation, prayer, or undertaking a short distraction activity have a beneficial and calming influence and have proved useful for staff, volunteers and also with our clients.

A Way Out’s holistic approach contributes to the uniqueness of the charity which is celebrating 17^th years of service this month.  This could not have been achieved without local financial and volunteer support for which we are extremely grateful. If you would like to be part of A Way Out’s future support please get in touch – info@awayout.co.uk, 01642 655071.

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.

A week in the life...

By Coasterman1234 at en.wikipedia

 of A Way Out is most definitely a roller-coaster sort of experience with unexpected sharp twists and turns, slow and strenuous up-hill climbs, exhilarating loop-the-loops, and joyful descents.  It takes a tremendous amount of effort to keep things on the rails and maintain smooth running, with each individual member of our team an essential element supported by an equally vital team of volunteers – there’s no sitting on the side lines.

On a daily basis, A Way Out offers support to vulnerable women, young people and families who often feel marginalized or are experiencing issues in which they feel alone and isolated.  For some the roller coaster of life has become a relentless journey on a fearful downward spiral affecting every element of basic existence – health, relationships, personal safety and security - things have gone beyond control.  A Way Out services exist to reach out and intervene, to put the on brakes and prevent any further downward descent by offering advocacy and empowering support to get back in control and back on track.

A Way Out charity has been supporting the vulnerable in this area for the past 17 years and sadly we see local demand is growing.  In response we are expanding services onto the streets in new geographical areas.  Aiming to reduce further growth in demand, we have expanded our intervention and prevention work into local schools and prisons across the region.  

We can meet this demand only with your help… volunteer, donate, fundraise – don’t sit on the side lines - hop on board with A Way Out.  For more details please go to www.awayout.co.uk or call 01642 655071