26/04/2021 - Empowering women to find their strength and courage
Community Investment Fund case study - Stepping Stones Luton
Sarah had a history of being in abusive relationships and urgently needed help in 2019 when she was wrongly accused of harming her own son.
He had been severely beaten by her ex-partner and taken to hospital with a brain haemorrhage. The boy was removed from her care, and an investigation begun.
Sarah was distraught when she approached the domestic abuse charity, Stepping Stones, for help.
The Luton charity provides free practical and emotional support to vulnerable women, more than 80 per cent of whom are dealing with complex and multiple issues arising from:
- domestic abuse
- offending
- drug and alcohol misuse
- poor mental health
Nearly 90 per cent of its clients simply need help to stay safe.
Sarah was shaking and crying throughout her initial appointment. She had been restricted to supervised contact with her son once a week, and said she wanted to work to ‘get herself better’ and get her son back in her care.
Stepping Stones liaised with professionals including children’s services to assess the welfare and safety of Sarah’s son. Sarah attended the freedom and nurturing programmes for one-to-one and parenting support.
Now she has almost completed the programme. She has been granted more contact with her son, including supervised overnight stays. And a judge has suggested that more access might be granted soon.
For Stepping Stones staff, their work is more for of a calling rather than simply a job.
Some have been in difficult situations themselves. They work to empower and inspire women to make positive changes; and recognise that none is easy.
Chief Executive Nicky Panton said: "A woman’s experience does not impact on just one area of her life. We support women to rebuild their self-esteem, understand more about the trauma they have suffered, the impact this can have on them and their children and how to identify abusive relationships in the future.
"We teach women skills to identify and manage their emotions and help them implement strategies to reduce the risk of harm."
Financial support provided by the council’s airport company London Luton Airport Ltd since 2015 is absolutely vital, contributing to core operating costs, staff salaries and childcare.
"It’s a lifeline to Stepping Stones,” said Nicky.
"It’s critical to almost every aspect of our services. It helps us support over 500 vulnerable women and 150 children a year, and without it we would genuinely struggle to exist.
"The way the fund has been administered has enabled us to maintain our central Luton base – a place that is easily accessible and somewhere women and children feel safe and welcomed. But beyond this, LLAL has directly positively impacted on the lives of hundreds of women from across the town who have suffered abuse or who are vulnerable."
Sarah’s case worker said her client had been in a very dark place, and her situation has remained challenging even after her former partner was convicted by a criminal court.
"But she's embraced our support. She engaged well and never missed any of her appointments.
"She's started working again and built her confidence. She's set goals in order to get her son back in her care, and is working hard towards a positive future."
What women say
"Every single room you walk into there’s a friendly face. There’s always someone to help you and it’s been magical so to speak. I probably wouldn’t be here now without you guys."
"I would have been in a worse place and probably out on the streets. I would not have known what to have done and may have gone down a dark path. I'm glad I rang for your support. You helped me by listening and providing practical support with regards to housing and moving refuge."
"My life has changed. I am grateful for all the support and guidance. Thank you. [Without Stepping Stones] I'd be living in a toxic lifestyle and I would not have my daughter."