Please support our Summer Appeal
Helping survivors build a future they can look forward to
This summer, we’re calling for your help to raise the vital funds we need to continue our work with survivors. We rely on donations to be able to provide the tailored one to one support, group activities, and development sessions that help women to heal and rebuild the trust, confidence, and skills they need to create their own future–one that is safe and free.
How Laura rebuilt her life and created her own future with our help
Laura had big dreams. She wanted to build a family and live a normal life. But things didn’t turn out that way after an abusive partner forced her into the sex industry.
“I was scared for my life and I was scared for my family’s life because I ran away. I had to ask for asylum and I was alone. I was feeling hopeless. I was feeling like I have no reason to live.”
For five years, she was in between different housing situations. She was staying at a National Asylum Support Service accommodation but had to move out with two weeks' notice. Luckily, she became eligible for the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) and was referred to Ella’s by her then support worker.
Starting to heal
After moving into one of Ella’s homes, Laura started to get to know the other women in the safe house, and make new friends, something she had found difficult earlier.
She says: ‘I feel stronger. I've made new friends. I never thought that I would make new friends. It's really hard to trust people. I have a purpose in life.It's still hard sometimes, some days, but I found a piece of myself that I was looking for so long’, she says.
Building confidence
While staying at the safe home, Laura started an interpreter course, and recently passed with flying colour
“Finally, I have a vision of myself in the future. I dream of it. I can’t wait, and I’m really grateful for being in a place like Ellas. It has changed my life.”
When being asked what freedom means to her, she says, ‘Freedom means to me, being safe. Freedom means to give me time to recover myself, just to live the way I want.’
And Ella’s?: ‘Ella’s I would describe as a big happy family who always support each other no matter what.’
How your donation can help build a new future for women like Laura
At Ella’s, we work with survivors for as long as they need us, however they need us, to help them recover from trauma, build confidence and the skills and networks they need to create a life that is safe and free, and a future they look forward to, like Laura does.
£30 could pay for a two-hour, tailored support session for a survivor like Laura.
£90 could pay for new bedding and towels for a new resident moving into one of our safe houses.
£300 could pay for a day-long survivor workshop or outing to develop employability skills, social confidence, and other tools key to building a new life.
£13 a month for a year could cover the cost of translation services to facilitate support work for a survivor who doesn’t yet speak English.
£30 a month for a year could help meet the maintenance costs of one of our safe houses.
Your support has helped Laura heal and build her confidence, trust, and skills. Please give today and help more women build futures they can look forward to. Photo: Tom Price/Ella’s
“There should be more [places like] Ella’s in the world … because communities like Ella’s change lives. Like they’re changing mine. To contribute to that, I think it’s priceless.”
<Gift Aid it> By ticking the Gift Aid box when you make your donation, you will add another 25% to the value of your gift, meaning even more funds available to reach more women who need our support.
Thank you for supporting women like Laura by helping Ella’s be there.