23rd April 2024
Stronger protections for stalking victims announced
Government plan is welcomed but multi-agency action is needed to raise conviction rates.
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It’s difficult to find the words to summarise 2020! What we’ll say is that we warmly welcome 2021, thankful to be leaving behind a year that brought heightened pain to so many, especially women living with, escaping from and recovering from domestic abuse who we have continuously supported throughout this time. While we are cautious of what this new year will bring, we remain hopeful and we are more motivated than ever to keep providing support to women in our community despite the further lockdown restrictions.
As ever, we wouldn’t be able to carry out our work without you! We can’t THANK YOU enough and we need your support to continue on our journey to end domestic abuse.
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And if you’re on social media, please keep sharing our content to raise awareness!
A few highlights (past, present, and future!)
Despite the pandemic, we grew our team of staff and trustees, and we continued the delivery of group and 1:1 sessions for our women and young people. The online shift was a challenge, but we managed!
59 women completed the Freedom Programme, 18 women completed Power to Change and 17 women completed Own My Life. We were also able to provide extra support to women attending these groups, by sign-posting them to other services including SATEDA’s Support2Court Team and Support Team. Here is some feedback from some of the wonderful women we are proud to support…
You don’t feel so alone and get some really good advice. There is nothing to lose and you have more to gain than you may realise. It’s great at helping you make sense of things and ginding relief whilst connecting to others.
The group has helped me regain my self-worth, it has really benefitted me. Without the funding i would not have afforded to be on it. It has been a massive help to me. The courses have improved my life this year.
Recently we’ve noticed an increased interest from our clients to learn more about financial abuse and how to access support around this, so we are launching an online pilot next month to raise the awareness about the detrimental impact of this rarely discussed form of abuse and the support available. This will first be open to the women we support and if it goes well we will be able to open it up for wider referral!
WE NEED YOU!
Can you make a regular monthly donation of, say, £3?
That’s no more than a fancy cuppa or cappuccino and together we will save lives!
If you have a little spare cash – the amount you’re saving on your monthly commute or from not getting that haircut will also make a huge difference as a one-off donation.
A comment from CEO, Liza Thompson, on the second hearing of the vital Domestic Abuse Bill earlier this month
“SATEDA are pleased that the Domestic Abuse Bill is finally making it’s way through Parliament after so many delays. It is very positive that domestic abuse is continuing to be a focus for Government and this has been noted during the current COVID situation. We welcome the long awaited statutory definition of domestic abuse, and particularly welcome the measure to prohibit perpetrators of domestic abuse from cross examination of their victims in civil and family courts.
However, we have watched this Bill become slowly diluted with each reading and would welcome more stringent duties around provision of specialist community services for victims of domestic abuse. SATEDA hope that the Domestic Abuse Bill will now move quickly through the ensuing stages of Parliament and the UK will move forwards with ratifying the Istanbul Convention.”
“No Act Of Kindness, No Matter How Small, Is Ever Wasted”
Kirsty’s abusive ex-partner took advantage of the trust she gave him, leading her to serve a prison sentence for his crime. Last year upon her release, Kirsty joined SATEDA as a volunteer, launching the incredible Project Hope, an initiative to send words of comfort and hope to women who are still behind bars in our local prisons.
“It’s just so they know they haven’t been forgotten. I know what they’re going through. I know how isolating it is to be in there. So this project is so important for me. I didn’t know before I went to prison that I had been through domestic abuse. And I think many of the women in there might not realise it either.”
The replies from the prison have started coming in and the positive impact these letters have had is incredible. Can you help Kirsty write letters for Project Hope? Please email mary.williams@sateda.org!
Much Needed Learning Equipment!
While many of the women we support have suffered from the intensified threat of abuse as a result of the pandemic and lockdown, many have also been impacted by job losses, extra childcare and home schooling, amounting to additional financial strains.
We are so pleased that our incredible team have supported some of our families to access laptops, kindles, reading books and arts craft items during this home-schooling period, thanks to the Buttle Trust!
Need A Chat?
We’re delighted to offer weekly virtual community coffee mornings starting on Tuesday 2nd February 2021!
These are an informal opportunity to discuss what trauma is, how it impacts our lives and the best ways to deal with it, over a cuppa.
These chats are also a valuable chance to also explore parenting, attachment and so much more, while building new relationships with other people in an understanding and non-judgmental environment!
The more we understand trauma, the better we can look after ourselves and our loved ones. Sign up here!
Santa’s SATEDA Elves!
Thank you so much to everyone who fundraised for us over this challenging festive period!
Prison officers from East Sutton Park prison wore Christmas jumpers to work and raised a cracking£64.03 for SATEDA!
Speaking of which, how can you fundraise for us? We’ve put together ideas for you below!
(And here is a bonus picture of our CEO Liza with her daughter Violet, busy delivering brownies to our locked down staff and trustees for Christmas!)
Fundraise! From Home! For Us!
Give the game away! Why not play your favourite board or card game with your bubble (or online), with a donation to enter!
Get creative! Have you been knitting, painting, tie-dyeing? Whatever your craft, set up an Instagram to showcase your work and ask for a donation in return.
Reps! Pick a physical challenge. Could be a jog, press ups, running up the stairs… and for every pound you get donated, complete one rep and share it on social media!
Green fingers! Who can grow the most impressive greenery in, say, one month? You and pals each donate to take part, pick a plant, set a time limit, nourish it and watch it grow!
Gotta Be In It To Win It!
SATEDA are one of the good causes making up the new Faversham and District Community Lottery initiative and we’re excited! At £1 a ticket, each week you’ll get the chance to win, knowing that 60% from each ticket you bought goes directly to supporting our services. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £25,000! Tickets go on sale on 23rd February 2021 so keep your eyes peeled, get in the game and good luck!
Click here for more info on how the lottery works!
Lastly, Dates for the Diary!
7th February 2021: Send A Card To A Friend Day – can you join in by writing a letter or two for Project Hope? Email us!
23rd February 2021: Faversham & District Community lottery tickets go on sale!Remember to put SATEDA as your good cause!
4th March 2021: World Book Day – We’ll be sharing insightful literature on domestic abuse and our favourite books by inspiring women. We’ll sneakily start with Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo! Haven’t read it? You must!
28th March 2021: International Women’s Day – A day to remind us of how wonderfully strong women are, highlighting our achievements and our struggles, while calling for gender equality!
Sending endless gratitude for your continued support, and lots of light to you and your loved ones in these tough and unpredictable times,
The SATEDA team
