Facemask sales fuel progress for key Stanley charity.
A STANLEY charity which empowers women has sold 6,000 facemasks to raise money for a new extension.
Just for Women runs therapeutic workshops and counselling for women facing domestic abuse, poor mental health and financial worries. While the centre has been closed, the team of staff and volunteers have managed to send 3,200 hampers to people in care homes, keep their counselling services running, and deliver activity, craft and care packs to families in the town
Founder Linda Kirk said: “When the pandemic hit we sat down and thought ‘what else can we do?’ and making and selling facemasks came to mind. We have nearly raised enough money now to build an annex on the centre so we can run workshops for an additional 10 women.
“We’ve kept really busy right the way through and now we’re working hard to get the centre reopened so that women can get out of the house again and we can make sure they are really okay.”
Facemask sales fuel progress
Debbie Ramm, who joined the team in 2017, has made thenmasks, which have sold like hot cakes around the country.
Linda added: “Debbie came to us through the job centre andnhas a real creative flare and made some beautiful home accessories to sell innour shop. We were fortunate to be able to give her paid employment and she hasnbeen a valuable member of our team. Debbie has made over 6,000 face masks andnstill her machine is churning out more. Debbie is a real diamond and has comenup with some lovely designs, even some with a little bling.”
The centre works with around 600 women each year, but a further 200 have come forward as a direct result of the pandemic.
Growing need
Linda added: “We’ve been getting out into the community andnas a result we’ve met a lot of new people who need our help. We’ve beennspeaking to more older women, some of whom have been experiencing domesticnabuse for decades, and now they are a carer for their partner.”
The team were awarded almost £4,000 by County DurhamnCommunity Foundation to prepare the centre for reopening with plastic screens,nfogging, handwash and additional cleaning rotas. The charity also received justnunder £12,000 from the ground-breaking Stanley Fund last year to support theirnadult learning workshops.
Linda said: “The Foundation have been brilliant. We wouldnnot be here if it weren’t for them. Everything we have wanted to do, they havensupported.
Chief executive of the Foundation, Michelle Cooper said: “Just for Women is an incredible organisation driven by an incredible team. Like so many of the groups we have been able to support, they have focused on what can be done, not on what can’t. To sell thousands of face masks proves that good funding helps entrepreuneurial spirit to grow, which is good for everybody.”
