Doing it for themselves

So, inspired by the idea of a ‘Big Society’ and putting something back into the local community, the former social worker sold her coffee shop and opened the Just For Women centre – a space where vulnerable women can meet, receive free counselling, form friendships and learn new skills – using crafts as a form of therapy.

Five years on, despite cuts and the threat of closure, the centre has enabled more than 1,500 women turn their lives around, helping some to move onto university and many back into work.

Linda currently has around 100 women on the books, 65 of whom have suffered some form of physical or sexual abuse. There is so much demand for a service like this, the centre has had to expand and is even in the process of opening a space for men. A lot of the women are referred by social services, probation and charities that have had their funding cut and can no longer offer support.

One of the biggest issues has been the increasing number of victims of historical abuse. While some have gone to court and got successful prosecutions, many are still too afraid to speak out. “At the moment we are working with 37 women who have suffered historical abuse and two thirds of them are afraid to go to the police or take any further action,” says Linda. “This is just in our local community, we have people writing to us from all over the country.”

Some are afraid they won’t be believed as it happened when they were very young. Others have children now themselves and don’t want their children to know. “We have one woman who was abused as a child and has had mental health issues for more than 50 years and she says, ‘what is the point of me going to the authorities now’?” says Linda.

Linda also has concerns about the long term implications for those women who do take it to court.

“The majority lose their families, or part of their families, and friends, if these women are being told to come out and talk about what has happened and get prosecutions going, they need long-term support after the case as well,” she says.

Research by The Guardian last year estimated that up to 10,000 victims of sexual abuse are waiting more than a year for counselling, with thousands potentially not receiving treatment at all as a result of funding cuts

Given the number of cases in County Durham, Linda believes the problem is worse than the figures show. “There will be more than 10,000 because we are not a registered charity and we know how many women we have got here,” she says. “Throughout the country there will be small organisations like us who are working with women who won’t go to the services.”

Another issue preventing women from turning their lives around is the fact that many victims are denied compensation because they have a criminal record, leaving them unable to access treatment or education. Linda is in the process of writing to government ministers to campaign for change. “The abuse happened to them when they were children and now they are being punished again - there are women all over County Durham in this position,” she says.

The centre is also seeing an increasing number of women who have been caught up in slavery and trafficking, both from the UK and Asia.

“One woman didn’t even know she was in the UK, she had been trafficked through several countries in a darkened van,” says Linda. “Some women have had babies through multiple rapes. It is unbelievable, horrendous, but it is a reality. Slavery is rife in this country and is happening locally. We didn’t think we had it on our doorstep, but unfortunately we have. In deprived mining communities such as these, people see it as a way of making money.”

The centre has received backing from the police and Durham County Council along with North Durham MP Kevan Jones, who highlighted its cost efficiency and success in helping women back into work at a debate in Parliament.

However, funding, remains a concern.

Being a social enterprise, a third of the costs are paid for by crafts the women have made and sold in the shop, but with resources stretched to the limit, the centre needs investment.

Lestryne Tweedy - co-director of the Just For Women Centre

With Linda and her co-directors Debbie Rogan and Lestryne Tweedy the only paid members of staff (two of whom are working full-time, but taking a part-time wage) – and the women – victims themselves - having to part fund the service, it is in stark contrast to London charity, Kids Company, which received £42m from Whitehall.

According to Linda, just £25,000 to cover the rent and bills, would be enough to secure its future. “We have done five years and it is something we have worked hard at, but we need government funding or investment to take it further,” she says. “The women come in every day, sometimes in tears, in a really distressed state, but an hour later, they pick themselves up and say, ‘come on, we have got to keep this centre open’.”

In the meantime, they have to rely on the goodwill and generosity of strangers (one customer who came into the shop was so inspired by what they were doing, he returned with a cheque for £1,000).

Some of the women’s stories will also be featured in a book this Spring.

Linda, a mother-of-three and former victim of domestic abuse herself, says: “We have come a long way and we are desperately needed. Where would these women go otherwise?”