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Impact + Testimony

Long-lasting positive impact on the lives of women and children

The Angelou Centre’s most significant achievement over the last three decades has been its long lasting positive impact on women and children’s lives. Our values and vision have driven a truly black feminist agenda of change with our services supporting women into social and economic independence by holistically addressing the wide ranging and multiple barriers that she may face in her journey to safety, stability and independence.

By tackling the root cause of social injustice whilst meeting the specific needs of each woman and child at an individual level the organisation has developed ways of working that prioritise long term support pathways over short term ‘fixes’. This means that our work is intersectional, complex and multifaceted, but its impact is far-reaching and sustained.

Our Women’s Voices group plays a central part in the development but also the ongoing evaluation of our services, encouraging a feedback loop within the organisation that has guided our more recent developments such as the refuge. By continuing to centralise the voices of women and children in our work at every level we are able to ascertain and evidence the direct impact we have on lives, whilst always being open to constructive critique and change within the organisation.

In 2020...

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Testimony

You helped me when it mattered the most. You assisted me with my immigration, council issues, dealing with social services, parenting sessions and family law solicitors. You reached out to me during the pandemic. Your organisation has built my confidence at a time when I was most vulnerable. Your words of comfort and assurance calmed my nerves when uncertainty was staring me in the face.
Even though I knew I was in an abusive relationship I could not do anything because where I come from it is believed that a woman is supposed to endure whatever her husband does to her, whether it is good or bad. I kept ensuring it until one day I decided to put an end to it but I did not know how and where to start but then an amazing thing happened and that was the Angelou Centre. I call the Angelou centre my family because I found the support I needed. The Angelou centre makes me see that a woman also has a life of her own and everything should not be for the man.
Before engaging with the Angelou Centre, I was lacking a lot with my parenting skills. The parenting season I had with my worker was amazing and helped me a lot to recognise what and where I was lacking as a parent especially communication skills. Parenting helps me a lot to communicate with children and the difference is now clear after the group parenting season between me and my children. Thank you, the Angelou Centre.
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Children’s Testimonies

There is no word to describe how happy I am because of the Angelou Centre.
The Angelou Centre have supported me with empowering my mother with new skills and knowledge.
The Angelou Centre has supported me by being my second family.
The Angelou Centre has helped me build an interest for Art.
The Angelou Centre is second family for me.
I meet new people and make new friends instantly.
We met Aunties and cousins at the Angelou Centre.
The Angelou Centre has supported me by helping me and my family build up self-confidence.
The Angelou Centre has supported me by making my family happy.
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Testimony

They (a national local authority) told me that I had to go back to a country I could have been murdered in, they didn’t ask me about the abuse, they didn’t care. They bought me a ticket to a place in Europe I was not from, putting me and my children and my sisters in danger. They told me that me and all my children had to be abused because they wouldn’t give us protection and didn’t believe me…when you saw my children’s behaviour-they were terrified they cried all day and night, they went through so much abuse themselves. But they ignored it and then told me if I didn’t do what they wanted, me and my children were on the streets. Then they threatened to take my children from me if I didn’t move to another country- I had no choices, either lose my children or me and my children would face danger in another country. If the Angelou Centre had not fought for my rights, given us a roof over our heads, given us food, given us safety, given us money, where would I be?... But Angelou Centre refuge gave me and my children so much more, they were kind and caring- we have friends and support, we have a life, I’ve started training, my children have their own support worker, there is no place like this home.

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