Latest News and Information
Kiltwalk 2022
Thank you to our Kiltwalkers and everyone who donated to them this year. They raised an amazing £1410, so it was well worth the gruelling 23 miles! Hopefully the blisters will have healed before the next one comes around.
And yes, that is two of our walkers - Erin and Emma - who braved the heat in those dinosaur costumes!!
SAY Women are devastated at the loss of one of our Young Women who recently died, not due to her trauma or her past, but to Covid19. She was an amazing, kind and generous young woman and special to all of us in the SAY Women community. She inspired younger women through her own journey and peer mentoring, sharing all she learned with others and outside agencies, taking action through Conversation Cafes to initiate and push for societal change for the greater good, but especially for young women. We wanted to share some of her powerful artwork as a tribute to her.
Covid Support 2020-2022
Thanks to all our staff who worked so hard over the Covid lockdowns to keep our services running under incredibly tough circumstances. Thanks too to all our young women who showed amazing resilience and support for each other.
When we had to close our Bell Street office in March 2020, we set up a new way of providing emotional support to our young women. We used online meeting applications and regularly checked in by phone.
Group Work
Our young women felt they needed more regular group work sessions as a way of meeting up and staying connected. We set up group work sessions every weekday to give them a routine and keep in contact.
Online Contact, Visits and Extra Funding
The pandemic and lockdown were so difficult for everyone, but we were particularly aware of how the isolation and anxiety could be so much worse for victims of childhood trauma and abuse. We did all we could to continue our service and provide that extra support and care they needed.
We secured extra funding from various sources which allowed us to provide practical support, as well as reassure our young women that they weren’t forgotten.
We supplied self-care packages containing art and craft supplies, games, toiletries, journals and kits for joining in with the remote group work.
“Thank you sooo much for coming to give me my self care parcel. Please be safe and thanks a lot for the gifts, I’m so overwhelmed n happy, I appreciate it a lot.”
We gave each of them an Amazon Fire Tablet to make sure they could stay in touch with us remotely, as well as access books and other online activities to keep them occupied. When emergency situations came up, we were able to help with supplies of clothes and household goods.
“I just wanted to... say a massive thank you for all your continued support during this time. The care packages and the Tesco voucher has really helped me and the kids”
The pandemic and lockdown put so many people into financial difficulties. With help from the Scottish Government’s Enhanced Independent Living Support Fund, we gave regular food and fuel vouchers to our young women.
We are grateful to the organisations that provided the extra funds:
Inspiring Scotland, STV Children’s Appeal, Foundation Scotland, Charities Aid Foundation, the Scottish Government’s Enhanced Independent Living Support Fund, Albert Hunt Trust, Glasgow City Council’s Area Partnership.
“A huge thank you for what I have been gifted, it’s so nice to be thought of and it’s really cheered me up! Thanks again, it’s too much”
Accommodation Referrals
SAY Women is always accepting referrals to our supported Accommodation Project. If you are supporting someone who is: a woman aged 16 - 25 years, has experienced child sexual abuse, rape/sexual assault or other forms of sexual violence & is at risk of or is experiencing homelessness, please contact us. Women can also self refer.
We can provide accommodation for up to 18 months, with follow on resettlement support. For more information contact our Accommodation Project on 0141 552 5803.
Young Women’s Artwork Exhibition at Glasgow Women’s Library
Early last year, the Glasgow Women’s Library held an exhibition of the artwork created by our Young Women, under the expert guidance of artist facilitator Nicola Dickson.
We certainly work with some talented young women! Have a look at photos of the exhibition here:
Impact Funding Partners
Impact Funding Partners is one of our funders and a great support to us. Click below to see our blog on their website:
Madeleine Black TEDx Talk
Our Patron, Madeleine Black, recently gave an amazing TEDx Talk in Glasgow on her inspirational story of surviving sexual violence. Click the button below to watch her talk, or link to her website here.