Salford Survivor Project our Look Back on 2020

SALFORD SURVIVOR PROJECT Our IMPACT REPORT For 2020 For Butterflies Inspired by Angels Charity 1179115

INTRODUCTION Established in 2013 after the death of two local mothers, Salford Survivor Project became a registered charity in 2018. Over the years the project has grown from strength to strength helping thousands of families gain support and advice to overcome the challenges that they have faced due to domestic abuse and/or family abuse.

Salford Survivor Project helps anyone affected by domestic or family abuse, including the survivors, their family and their friends. We support people through several projects and outreach, in a non-judgemental, confidential and non-pressurised way. We help when you need it and at your pace and choice.

We aim to empower people who have been negatively affected by abuse. We help them recognise unhealthy behaviour and empower them to make positive change in their lives to live free from abuse and the effects it has on themselves and their families.

Our aim is to raise awareness of abuse within our culture and society and the mental health, drugs and alcohol abuse that couples with abuse as a coping mechanism to shroud the real issues of trauma a Survivor has endured.

A Word from our CEO Jane Gregory Last year was a challenging time for everyone. We were not however, prepared for the impact COVID-19 was going to have on SSP, Salford Citizens or even the world. COVID-19 and the National Lockdown changed completely the way our service is delivered and increased the demand for our services on an unprecedented level.

January always brings an influx of people needing our services. December culminates for some families with an explosion. The demands of Christmas stresses, money worries, alcohol, families spending too much time together, inevitably increases the number of domestic/family abuse cases over the festive period. Quickly followed with New Year New ME and a resolution of change and hope for the future, combined with a newfound belief that it’s finally time to leave and make a fresh start. 2020 was no different! Let’s hope 2021 is as productive and inspiring.

A word of thanks ….

As a manager I cannot thank the volunteers enough for their effort, support and sheer dedication to making this Charity the success it has been throughout the past year. There are so many people who have helped others and selflessly given their time and comfort to those in most need. YES, we are sometimes unconventional and YES, we wear our hearts on our sleeves WHY? It gets the results needed!

Our supporters and fundraisers have ensured that the help that was needed reached those in most need. Their donations of food, money, clothing, toys and gifts ensured many men, women and children, were not left with empty bellies or the means to reach the help they needed to keep them safe and comfortable. The people of Salford and further afield, as far away as Australia, made a real difference in allowing our Charity reach those who were in desperate need.

I would like to thank the volunteers of other services within Salford, Greater Manchester and Nationally who have helped us deliver the service needed including those in Our Partnership with Salford Covid Mutual Aid Coalition who ensured we reached even more people. A special thanks for the support, funding & sponsorship from Salford CVS, Community Pride, KHF Solicitors, Shencoh Limited, Rotary Club Worsley and Megavans Limited. In addition, the support and donations from Specsavers Swinton, Tesco Irlam, Aldi Swinton, Boots Trafford Centre, Callys Cakes, Rayahs Childrenswear, Church Action on Poverty, Lillis Bowtique, Bronze Boutique, the Little Green Deli, Azure Laser Clinic and the Victory Outreach Manchester.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to the families of our angels who inspired us to help survivors live life free from abuse. The family of Dean Darvill, Leanne Mcnuff, Linzi Ashton, Becky Ayres, Nikki Campbell, Regan Tierney and Olivia Humphreys. Without their support we could not have achieved what we have.

Our Angels who Inspire Butterflies

(to gain their freedom wings)

Leanne

Dean

Linzi Becky

Nikki

Regan

Olivia 10 children were left without a mother or father

Our Funders and Sponsors

What do we do?

Helpline open 7 days a week 10am till 10pm 0161 706 0468 1:1 Support

Group Support

Long term support at your pace.

Legal Advice and support to gain protection orders & Child Arrangement Orders

Support to attend appointments with professionals:the police station,

medical appointments,

meetings with Social services

attending court both Civil and Criminal in relation to abuse suffered by survivor.

We support you in a crisis.

We provide food parcels, clothing, furniture and support in being rehomed.

We offer ongoing Emotional Support, access to qualified counsellors, support groups, peer mentors & deliver.

EMPOWERING COURSES TO LIVE FREE FROM ABUSE We represent your voice Campaign for change and awareness of abuse.

What makes us unique?

WE support survivors to EVOLUTE

WE HELP BECAUSE WE CARE

by Empowering

Campaigning for change

Voices,

Using our voice locally.

Options, Learning, Unity, Transformation & Experience

& nationally Reaching people via Facebook Twitter, Instagram, Newspapers, Radio & TV

The Only Northwest Helpline dedicated to support victims of domestic or family abuse open 7 days a week 10am till 10pm.

How did we receive referrals ?

Most people ask for help directly but almost a quarter of our clients were friends/relatives asking/referring loved ones. Also 1 in 10 referrals were through our partner agencies or other charitable services we work with.

HOW DID PEOPLE INITIALLY ASK FOR HELP? Via another route 17% Outside Agency 6%

Social Media 39%

Helpline 38%

Partner Agency 10%

TYPES OF REFERRALS

Outside Agency 6%

Family/Friend 25%

Self-referral 59%

How did people get in touch with us initially?

Due to lockdown our Support groups and Advice sessions were temporarily closed in March 2020. The demand via our Helpline/ Social media accounts increased by 400%.This changed the way people contacted us for the first time.

SOME OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS THROUGHOUT 2020

We supported 139 women & 3 men gain their butterfly wings of Freedom by leaving an abusive relationship We supported those butterflies along with their 228 children in finding a safe space to live free from abuse.

We directly supported 57 families to be rehoused in safe accommodation. Through donations we were able to provide furniture, TVs, carpets, white goods, kitchen items, bedding, curtains and many other household items FREE OF CHARGE to more than 380 families.

Our outreach service delivered and collected items throughout the pandemic. We also provided over 1200 essential food and toiletry parcels over the year.

The Problem with Lockdown 2020     

We had to change how we did things.

We had to close our support groups and our drop ins.

We were worried about the safety of volunteers, clients and our families.

Our fundraisers were cancelled.

And the need for our service rose dramatically.

Our helpline became a hotline. Victims, parents of those being abused and children in abusive homes were isolated from support.

Our Response CALM DOWN AND KNOCK DOWN THAT LOCKDOWN  We increased the number of volunteers answering the helpline and moved our service to online and via telephone.  We worked through the pandemic and delivered to the doors of those who could not come to us with PPE.  We kept gathering evidence, knocking on doors and shouting to those in power that abuse was a pandemic and needed addressing.

Some of our highlights of the 2020.

MARCH - Lockdown Didn’t Knock Us Down.

CEO Jane Gregory, Trustee Jenni Smith & Founding members Sarah Whitehead & Shannon Randall set up the Salford Covid-19 Mutual Aid Coalition in March 2020 including

IN APRIL – We Raised awareness of domestic abuse with our video Follow this link - SALFORD SURVIVOR DURING LOCKDOWN - YouTube

RAISING AWARENESS WITH OUR EXPERIENCES Throughout the year - CEO Jane Gregory a Northwest spokesperson on Domestic Abuse. Represented Salford and domestic abuse victims in appearances on ITV, the BBC, Sky News, CapitalFM, Heart, LBC Radio stations and local and National press including the Independent. Challenging societal and cultural beliefs, misogyny, refuge cuts and the lack of police reporting for victims of abuse.

'Women are panicked': How domestic abuse refuges are struggling with the turmoil of coronavirus | The Independent | The Independent Coronavirus: Government urged to introduce emergency measures to protect women trapped with abusers amid concerns violence could soar | The Independent | The Independent Emergency appeal by Salford domestic abuse charity as calls increase | Salford Now Greater Manchester Police 'failed to record 80,000 crimes in a year' - BBC News There are many more articles, new stories and events covered in the press.

In August the Opening of Community Charity shop Butterflies Inspired by Angels Officially opened by the families of our Angels

Based in Peel Green Eccles the shop is a community Charity shop used for free by those in need who have been affected by domestic or family abuse. Families and survivors can choose items of clothing, toys, food, toiletries, baby equipment & household items. Allowing people to choose what they want gives. them some self-respect. If they choose to, they can leave an IOU and when they are financially stable can donate money or items back. More than 60 clients who we have helped have donated back to the shop and charity.

Christmas 2020

Fed 436 Delivered Christmas. sacks to 302 children

people Christmas breakfast, chocolate and dinner with all the trimmings.

Even though we were all worried and many were struggling financially thanks to the generosity of people we raised more than £10,500... for those in most need Our legal team gave legal advice to people and helped secure 32 molestation orders for those in danger and legal aid for more than 40 people.

We helped secure the conviction of 7 perpetrators and supported their victims.

Our social media pages reached so many people and made a difference to their lives. Raising awareness of domestic abuse, sharing stories, and encouraging posts. On the 7th of July 2020 our posts reached 29,090 people in just one day. The power of Facebook.

WE PLEDGE TO WALK BY YOUR SIDE WHEN YOU NEED US CARRY YOU WHEN YOU NEED LIFTING EMBRACE YOU WHEN YOU NEED COMFORT LET YOU CHOOSE YOUR OWN JOURNEY

OUR AIMS AND PRACTICE ARE To listen to what you need. Help you recognise your strengths. Build your trust.

Empower you to live free from abuse. Never judge you. Promote your choices.

Keep your confidences in the knowledge that we are there for you 100%

Most of our volunteers are survivors of family and or domestic abuse.

We have lived experience and understanding of the Trauma, the loyalty, the guilt, the fear and the shame of the living in an abusive household or relationship.

We are unique in that we are survivors and family members of survivors.

WE SURVIVED AND NOW USE OUR KNOWLEDGE TO HELP OTHERS!!

LET’S SMASH 2021 TOGETHER !!

SALFORD SURVIVOR PROJECT 480 LIVERPOOL ROAD ECCLES M30 7HZ

HELPLINE 0161 706 0468 Get in touch in confidence.