Crossroads DERBYSHIRE (Formerly High Peak Women’s Aid)
ISSUE 1-SUMMER 2015
W e l c o m e … Crossroads Derbyshire to the first edition of our How to contact us: Crossroads DERBYSHIRE Newsletter We welcome any comments, including details P O Box 22 of how you can get involved and provide your Glossop ideas on how we can improve our services, Derbyshire have your say and make things happen. SK13 8AE Tel: 01457 856675 Fax: 01457 855199 Email: [email protected] www.crossroadsderbyshire.org Registered Charity No: 1134679
DONATIONS
Crossroads Derbyshire would like to express sincere thanks to all individuals, groups and organisations for your donations and continued support over the last six months. We really appreciate your support and generosity. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION PLEASE GO TO: www.justgiving.comhighpeakwomen or www.crossroadsderbyshire.org 1 ISSUE 1 - SUMMER 2015
REBRAND
One of our biggest pieces of news is our re-brand and our newsletter is an ideal opportunity to tell you about it. At the end of last year, after consultation with service users, stakeholders and our supporters in the community, we agreed that we needed to change the name and brand of the organisation. We have done this for several reasons.
We felt that the name no longer reflects our area of work as we now are operating services in the North Dales. The name also does not reflect the work that we do with children and young people and it is often a barrier to men who wish to access our service.
With a grant from the Lottery’s Awards for All, we have now changed our name and our logo and we also have a brand new website which is much easier to navigate.
We retain the name of High Peak Women’s Aid for the company.
We would like to thank local marketing agency Fig Creative for creating our new brand and website.
PLEASE VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE AT: www.crossroadsderbyshire.org
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REPORT BY THE SERVICES MANAGER
Welcome to Crossroads Derbyshire’s first newsletter . In terms of change and achievements this has probably been the most successful period in a long time and there is a lot to tell you.
Firstly I have to thank everyone for the continued support of Crossroads - we have had some amazing donations in the last 9 months. Kaye’s parachute jump and Andrew Bingham’s sponsored walk raised thousands of pounds for the organisation when we really needed it; but there have also been lots of other donations and fundraising events which have helped us to achieve so much in our outreach service, our children’s service and our services for girls and young women. We must also thank our regular donors who give money each month through standing order; this is a really good way to support Crossroads Derbyshire because it is regular income that we can count on.
Despite still beginning the year with a shortfall, we have managed to sustain all of our services and they have all achieved their targets over the year. We were delighted to receive a further three years continuation funding from Children In Need for our children’s outreach programme which has become extremely popular and has had some very positive outcomes for children and young people.
Our children’s team has seen some changes, two of our valued team members moved on to other opportunities but we have now recruited two new members who bring new skills to the team particularly for those children with additional needs.
We have also said goodbye to our Senior Outreach Worker who has worked with the organisation almost since its very beginnings. We were all sad to see Sue go and cannot thank her enough for her dedication and commitment over the years. We also said goodbye to our Volunteer Coordinator, Viv has helped us to build up a team of volunteers over the last four years and she also was instrumental in the development of our new services for young women. We now welcome a new Senior Outreach Worker and Volunteer Co-ordinator who have lots of new ideas for developing both the Outreach Service and our Volunteer base.
We are very lucky to have the continued support of Derbyshire’s Police Crime Commissioner Alan Charles. His support of domestic abuse services and in particular, improved services for victims has enabled to submit applications to the Police Crime Commissioners fund. We were successful in the first bid, to secure funding for our Senior Accommodation Worker at the Harmony Project and this funding has now been extended to March 2016. We were also invited to submit an application to the Commissioners Capacity and Capability fund and have been awarded £38,000 to recruit a Business and Development Officer for 12 months, to assist us in putting a fundraising strategy in place to make the organisation more sustainable; and to help us to make sure the organisation is ready to tender in the forthcoming commissioning process. The funding also includes £6700 to enable our staff team to undertake CAADA training and additional ISVA training to support victims where sexual violence has been a part of the abuse.
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In November, we launched our new brand, Crossroads Derbyshire-Domestic Abuse Services. This was the end product of a year of hard work with local business Fig Creative, which involved staff, trustees, service users and the community. We are really pleased with our new ‘look’ and hopefully the website is much clearer and easier to access for those who want to learn more about what we do. Despite our fears it seems that everyone has recognised and accepted our new name and has been really supportive in ensuring that we are still prominent within our community.
December and January have been particularly busy for us. In December we embarked on the Women’s Aid accredited National Standards which involved submitting 233 pieces of evidence in order to achieve the accreditation. This was a real team effort and all the staff worked together to ensure that everything was completed for submission in January. We were delighted to be told in April that we were successful and we are now an accredited service.
In mid-December the government announced funding to secure refuge provision. The £10,000,000 funding announcement was welcomed by all refuges that had lost funding as we had in 2012 and we were invited to bid in partnership with our local authority. High Peak Borough Council were keen to support our young women’s refuge provision and agreed to work on a bid with us. This was a huge piece of work which had to be submitted within 28 days so there was not much space for Christmas! We submitted a bid for £100,000 and were absolutely thrilled to be awarded the funding which will secure the Harmony Project for the next 12 months.
At the same time, we were also packing our old office up to make way for pastures new. We moved on 7th January into a new office environment which has been really positive for all of us and really improves our service delivery and provision and has also saved slightly on cost. We were lucky enough to be awarded £7,000 from the Cloth Workers Foundation to financially support the move and this has helped to provide much needed computers, furniture and a secure alarm system for the premises.
Despite all our efforts, we still have a deficit in some areas this year and so there is more fundraising to be done and we welcome support from the community to help us to achieve this.
So as we embark on another year, we now know that our services will go out to tender in July and so we have to work hard to ensure that we can prove to Commissioners that we are the best people to continue to provide innovative services that are responsive to the needs of our service users. We have excellent working relationships with other providers and with local agencies that enhance our service delivery and we hope that this round of commissioning ensures excellent future provision for all victims of domestic abuse.
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High Peak Women’s Aid Current Services
Our main purpose is to keep adults (both male and female victims) children and young people, safe from domestic abuse Our services enable those affected, to be able to address and manage their risks and engage in structured and progressive activities that support healthy relationships; facilitate informed life choices and improve confidence and physical and emotional wellbeing.
Our core services include: • Harmony Project :-24 hour staffed accommodation for young women 16 years to 24 years who are homeless because of risks associated with domestic abuse and sexual violence. [email protected] • WAGS ( Women and Girls Safe) Intensive group work and one to one support, for girls and young women in the community who are experiencing teenage relationship abuse, sexual exploitation, forced marriage. • Outreach support for both women and men, enabling them to manage safety and risk in their own home where appropriate, supporting with legal and housing issues and referrals made to other relevant agencies when needed. • Children’s Service - Specialist support for children and young people affected by domestic abuse; offering prevention and recovery work for 0 -19 years, parenting support and signposting and introduction into other targeted and universal services. • Counselling Service delivered by qualified volunteers-improving the emotional wellbeing of those affected by domestic abuse. • Freedom Programme - a 12 week course for women who have or are experiencing domestic abuse. THE BROKEN PLATE
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VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
I am the new Volunteer Co-ordinator and started with Crossroads at the end of April.
I have been meeting up with our current volunteers and I have been inspired and impressed by the enthusiasm, professionalism and skills set of all our volunteers.
I have been meeting up with members of staff from each of our services as well to look at further ways in which we can introduce more volunteers in to Crossroads to further strengthen and support our services. I have identified various new roles and am starting to recruit over the summer.
We have various events arranged in the summer for fundraising and raising awareness and volunteers will play a crucial part in these activities.
I am planning to run some training sessions for volunteers in September and am working on developing a range of accessible on-line courses that would enable volunteers to gain qualifications and continuing personal development opportunities whilst volunteering here.
I would like to say a big Thank you to all our volunteers who contribute so much to this valuable project in the High Peak and I am honoured to be involved in supporting and developing this great service.
We will be having a stall at the One World Festival, New Mills to raise awareness of our services and the role of volunteers and a family fun day at Partington Theatre, Glossop on Saturday 11th July.
Please get in touch if you would like to get involved and help or please come along! Email: [email protected]
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BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS OFFICER
I am really thrilled to be joining Crossroads Derbyshire as the new Business and Operations Officer, working closely with Pam to strengthen the financial position of the organisation for the future. I’ll be taking up my post in July, and I can’t wait to get started!
I’ve come from a children’s health charity in Manchester where I worked on fundraising from charitable trusts as well being responsible for finance and communications. I’ve been so impressed with what I’ve seen so far of the commitment and dedication of the staff, volunteers and donors to Crossroads. I am really looking forward to working more closely with everyone who is involved in the organisation.
My post has been funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire until the end of this year, and one of the main aims of the role is to get a new database up and running in collaboration with Women’s Aid groups nationwide. This will really help us to better understand and support the families we work with.
I will also be working on our upcoming tender with Derbyshire County Council, and putting together a large bid to Reaching Communities, a part of the Big Lottery. I’ll be working closely with the Service Manager, trustees and support staff to get these completed over the next few months.
I’ll also be available to talk to anyone about any fundraising ideas you may have, so please do give me a call. I’d be more than happy to support you in any way I can.
Thanks to everyone who supports Crossroads Derbyshire – it really does make such a big difference!
FUTURE FUND RAISING EVENTS —2015
We hope you can join us
JOIN US FOR OUR QUIZ NIGHT SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2015
AT GLOSSOP LABOUR CLUB Chapel Street, Glossop
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A LOOK BACK AT SOME 2014 FUNDRAISING EVENTS
WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS FOR ALL THEIR FUNDRAISING EVENTS DURING 2014 ABOVE IS A SELECTION OF PHOTOS
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HUGE THANKS TO MP Andrew Bingham
Last year Andrew Bingham spent five days in late summer to raise vital funds for Crossroads Derbyshire by hiking more than 65 miles around his constituency, starting and finishing at the Snake Pass Inn and included a gruelling trudge over Bleaklow Moor.
We are delighted that Andrew raised over £5,000 through individual sponsorships and also sponsorship form many local companies including The Dow Chemical Company, Buxton Water, CEMEX, HD Sharman, Cottage Craft Spirals and others.
The money Andrew raised from his friends, colleagues and local people has made a great contribution to two services in particular.
At the start of the year we had shortfalls in our budget for our Outreach Service which supports up to 220 women and men affected by abuse in the High Peak Community; some of the money contributed to staffing and running costs. The remainder of the funds raised was used to support the 25 girls and young women accommodated by our Harmony Project, providing safe accommodation for them and their children.
We are really grateful for Andrew’s support of our core projects.
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2015—FUNDRAISING EVENTS
HUGE THANKS TO KAYE PHILLIPS
We would like to say a HUGE thank you to Kaye Phillips for all her fundraising for Crossroads Derbyshire (formerly High Peak Women’s
Aid) and for raising over £4,500 over the last 2 years. On Saturday 7th February 2015 Kaye took a ride in a light aircraft and tandem- jumped out at 15,000 feet.
We would like to thank Kaye and also everyone for the wonderful support received from the Glossop and High Peak Community and
Kaye’s friends and family. Kaye has raised over £2,200 from the Sky Dive.
Kaye told the Chronicle: “Who knows what I will do next. But I think my feet will probably stay on the ground.”
We would like to thank everyone who attended our Quiz night on Sunday 15th February at the Glossop Labour Club and for raising an amazing £678.00 We would like to say a special thank you to all of our Trustees for arranging such a fabulous fundraiser for Crossroads Derbyshire.
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2015—FUNDRAISING EVENTS CONTINUED
Thank you also to Hand Picked Events who chose Crossroads Derbyshire as their chosen charity for their first event of 2015 held on Sunday 12th April 2015 at Wimberry Hill and raised £305.00.
We are extremely grateful for their support.
Thank you to everyone who attended the
event.
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OFFICE MOVE Our Advice Centre along with the Children’s team moved in to new
offices in January 2015. The new office premises are more modern
and service user friendly.
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SOME COMMENTS FROM OUR SERVICE USERS: ∗ “The support I have been given has been amazing and I have appreciated it so much. I feel so much safer in my home. I feel I was really listened to and cared for as a whole person. Thank you. ∗ “Because I have received support on my behaviour, family and relationships, which has helped a lot. ∗ ‘I feel like I found the real me after staying in the refuge. Before I came here, I felt I had no future, now I see a happy future.’ ∗ “My Support Worker has been amazing, she has listened to me about every- thing. She was very good with me and talked me through the rough times.”. ∗ “My Support Worker as very good, it helped to talk to someone and know you are not alone, the service I had was great and I don’t think you need to improve anything..” ∗ ‘You did absolutely everything to accommodate me and emotionally financially and in every other way.’ ∗ “Nothing was too much trouble for my Support Worker, I always felt that she was there for me.” ∗ ‘I feel assured, brilliant, positive, confident, settled absolutely on top of the world. Thank you all soooooooo much!’ ∗ I felt that the support I received was individualised and compassionate. ∗ “I feel that if required more support would have been given.” ∗ “Before I contacted Women’s Aid I felt that my situation was perhaps trivial in the eyes of others, but now after all this support and compassion I realise it isn’t and the police are there to protect me.” ∗ “A brilliant service.” ∗ “My Support Worker has been a tower of strength with all my problems at the time of my distress.” ∗ “I could not have re-built such a good life for myself and my daughter without the support of my Support Worker.” ∗ “They do such an excellent job, I can’t think of anything more they could have done for me in my situation. I owe them so much.” ∗ Very professional, warm and attentive, excellent company, they offered no- nonsense advice which is very much appreciated at a very confusing time.
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High Peak Women's Aid High Peak Women's Aid AGM AGM
Annual General Meeting Wednesday 12th November 2014
We would like to thank everyone who joined us at our Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 12th November at Bradbury House and for making our AGM a huge success. We would also like to thank everyone for the positive comments from the evaluation form, we really appreciate the feedback.
Our next AGM will be on Wednesday November 11th 2015 at Bradbury House.
Please send us an email if you would like to be included in our mailing list for our 2015 AGM.
∗ I did not know much about Crossroads before I attended this evening. I
have learnt a lot about this organisation ∗ I enjoyed the tour of the new website
∗ It was interesting to hear what work others do to contribute to Women’s Aid and their views and progress made during this year.
∗ I know about the links with the University eg the patron and having stu- dent social workers on placement.
∗ I know it is not just women who experience domestic violence and that was one of the reasons for the rebranding to be more inclusive. ∗ I found the whole evening interesting particularly the history about HPWA
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We held two very successful Open Days in 2014, one at Bradbury House in Glossop and one at the United Reformed Church in Buxton to allow Agen-
cies, Professionals and students to meet our teams and gain information
about our services. Please email us at [email protected] if you would like to attend our future events.
Below are some pictures from our Buxton event
RETIREMENT— ANNOUNCEMENT
We have this year said goodbye to both Sue, our Senior Outreach Worker and to Viv, our Volunteer Co-ordinator who have both recently retired. They will both be greatly missed and we would like to thank them for their dedication and hard work during their employment at Crossroads Derbyshire.
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THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
Crossroads Derbyshire want to let all of our volunteers
know how much we appreciate their hard work throughout the year.
If you would like to volunteer at High Peak Women’s Aid, please email: [email protected]
FREEDOM PROGRAMME
We are currently running our 12 week Freedom Programme Course.
If you would like to make a referral please email
for a referral form
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WAYS TO DONATE
To find out how you can support Crossroads Derbyshire visit www.crossroadsderbyshire.org
STANDING ORDER FORM
Standing Orders for a regular monthly amount is the best way of supporting Crossroads Derbyshire because this is regular income that we know we can depend on and it also gives you the opportunity to gift aid it so for every £1.00 you donate we will receive an extra 25 pence, so your £10.00 will give us £12.50. Alternatively you can donate through Local Giving or Just Giving. Further details can be obtained from our website: www.crossroadsderbyshire.org
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