New Beginnings Peer Support charity was set up as an after-crisis domestic abuse service supporting women and their children to re-build their lives after previously being subjected to abuse.
It provides one to one and group sessions, emotional and practical support, study and career support and also a client to peer volunteer pathway. Peer volunteers are people who provide information, advice and support to others in their community with whom they share similar life experiences.
Sadly women and girls experience violence and discrimination in every society, simply because of their gender. These crimes and behaviours can affect victims of all ages, abilities, sexualities and backgrounds. They can happen within current or previous relationships, in families and in communities.
Covid-19 highlighted domestic abuse and concerns for those living in abusive households during lockdown. This and other distressing crimes against women has resulted in the Violence Against Women & Girls movement gaining momentum, however the lasting effects of domestic abuse are still not well understood.
The national charity Surviving Economic Abuse has found that 95% of domestic abuse victims report having been subjected to economic abuse. This often results in thousands of pounds of coerced debt with long reaching implications for women starting again after fleeing their abuser.
Family courts are still catching up with legislation within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and New Beginnings regularly witnesses a lack of understanding of the emotional and psychological post-separation abuse that is occurring. This causes detriment to the women and children it supports, through forced court-ordered contact. These challenges explain why long-term support is vital, and this is where New Beginnings aims to help locally. It provides long term support, building emotional reliance and creating a foundation from which women can build themselves up, helping them to reach the right support from the right agencies.
As a small charity, what it achieves would not be possible without its incredible cohort of both peer and community volunteers. They and their networks support clients to create homes from properties provided to them, access to food provision, create family activity packs that foster emotional intelligence and family connection, connect fundraising opportunities and create new services such as a weekly text check-in service and peer-led walk and talk.
New Beginnings are looking for new volunteers to help in two key areas; regular administrative support (preferably with some bookkeeping experience) and arranging fundraising opportunities and events.
If you would like to contribute to this vital and growing charity, the team would love to hear from you. All their volunteer positions are advertised through the HADCA Volunteering Directory or alternatively contact sarah@newbeginningspeersupport.com
Please note this service is a women-led peer service and is therefore restricted to women/non-binary (female at birth) applicants under the Equality Act 2010 Schedule 9 Part 1 & Section 7(2)e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
Photo shows Founder and CEO Lindsay Oliver & volunteers with James at Roots & Fruits Harrogate, Christmas 2022
