A Way Out

Charity Details

Full Name: A Way Out
Field: Community Services
Founded: 2002
Headquarters: Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1BZ
Charity No.: 6265354

History and Activities

A Way Out is a charity based in Stockton which aims to engage, empower and equip vulnerable and excluded women, families and young people to live lives free from harm, abuse and exploitation. It was established in 2002 by Jessie Jacobs who was so moved by the abuse, poverty and addiction inflicted upon the women of Stockton that she decided to take action. Jessie inspired two friends and a local community group to establish a service which would provide a way out for vulnerable and at-risk people trapped by life-limiting choices.

The charity now employs 18 full and part-time staff and maintains a support centre, which acts as a hub for its activities, called ‘The Gate’ near the River Tees. A Way Out works with a number of partner organisations to deliver community-based programmes, the largest of which is The Liberty Project. The Liberty Project facilitates recovery pathways for vulnerable women, often with very complex needs. The service has been extremely successful. In 2017, The Liberty Project helped 38 women to reduce or eliminate their dependency on drugs and facilitates increased access to health checks and screenings.

Recognising that many of the social problems the charity addresses are formed early in life, often in childhood, A Way Out also offers a youth-based programme ‘Reload’. Reload provides opportunities to young people from deprived areas of Stockton with 1-1 mentoring, arts and sports skills sessions, and a neighbourhood social action programme called ‘HALO’. The Youth Outreach and Engagement Service also provides a parenting skills programme, residential trips and works alongside RISE, an organisation which provides support to empower at-risk families.

In 2017, the charity was supported by 69 volunteers who donated a total of 2,625 hours, the equivalent of £18,900, towards the continual success of vital projects.

The charities income of £535,119 is predominantly formed from grants and donations. In 2017 A Way Out received £183,453 in National Lottery funding, £30,000 from Garfield Weston, £30,000 from the Tudor Trust and £29,999 from Comic Relief all of which will allow A Way Out to make a positive change to communities in Stockton and provide services which allow the most vulnerable take back control of their lives.

Vital Statistics (year to 31/12/2017)

Website

https://www.awayout.co.uk

References