Women’s Aid NEL AGM 2023/24

We were delighted to see so many interested parties at our recent AGM, from staff and volunteers, to corporate partners and partner agencies.

It was a great opportunity to present the successes and challenges we navigated in the financial year 2023/24 and outline our plans and goals for 2024/25 and we want to thank everyone who took the time to come along.The report focused on performance, outcomes and the impact of the services we delivered and identified that we received over 4000 referrals during the year, out of which 656 were directly supported via our various services, including 79 in the Refuge, 266 through outreach services and 311 women completing our ‘Freedom’ program.The Women’s Refuge received a makeover in 2023, with facilities and accommodation being refreshed and refurbished, to make the stay for both mums and children as comfortable and stress free as possible.

79 Women

80 Children

Throughout the period reported on , we supported 79 women and 80 children in refuge accommodation and although we don’t receive any direct funding for children’s services, our team delivered lots of children’s activities and provided facilities, funded from money raised through our Club 400 Lottery scheme.

• 96% of clients felt safer after coming to Women’s Aid. (some also feel scared further on leaving)

• 82% said we helped them to make kore sense of the abuse.

• 84% said their self worth and self belief had increased.

• 62% needed help with police/courts, criminal justice system, solicitors and legal aid.

• 29% of clients were supported with drug/alcohol issues.

• 94% said staff had helped them emotionally.18% received help from ‘Target Hardening’ with locks, bolts, alarms, cameras, etc.

• 81% received grants, emergency money, financial support, etc. from Women’s Aid.

• 82% received emergency food/toiletries/clothing from Women’s Aid.

• 9% undertook volunteering roles with Women’s Aid.

• 14% were helped to move on with learning, training or jobs.

We continue to operate 4 charity shops across Grimsby and Cleethorpes, this year staffed by 150 volunteers, working a total of 37,031 staff hours, which would equate to a wages cost 0f £385,863 at minimum wage, if our fantastic volunteers didn’t give their time free of charge.

We are so grateful to our volunteers, without whom, we wouldn’t be able to provide the services we do, to the victims and survivors of domestic abuse, across North East Lincs and we celebrated them at a ‘Volunteers Evening’, during Volunteers Week in June, at The Pelham Suit in Grimsby.The volunteers in our shops received and processed 37,272 bags of donations over the year, up over 20% on the previous year, which generated a total income from the shops of £557,322, almost 25% more than the previous year and

• 37,272 bags of donations

• £557,322 income generated

Our Ebay shop continues to thrive and grow, having sold 4077 items over the tear, an increase from 3772 the previous year and generating £33,254 profit for the charity.

• 4077 items sold

• £33,254 profit

In an effort to make the most of the donations we receive, Gift Aid continues to be a prime focus in our charity shops with all shops achieving between 15-39% of donors subscribing to Gift Aid when they donate.

This is a great ach9evement and testament to the dedication of our staff and volunteers, as the national average for Gift Aid in charity shops is claimed to be between 10-15%!This is the 4th year of us being able to offer women and children safe, secure, good quality and affordable homes and we’re excited to be able to report that as at 31st March 2024, Women’s Aid own 13 properties, with  further 3 being leased and to date we have housed 20 women and 42 children.

• 13 properties owned

• 3 properties leased

• 20 women housed

• 42 children housed

Our marketing and social media activities continue to increase, with visitors to our website and engagement on social platforms increasing year on year.

Website users: 2023/24 – 19,164 up from 15,369 – 2020/21Facebook followers:

March 2024 – 6921

March 2021 – 5084

Instagram followers: (set up 2023)

March 2024 – 585

LinkedIn followers: (set up 2023)

March 2024 – 318We would like to thank everyone, from our Trustees, to staff, volunteers, partners and of course our customers for making it possible for us to provide the services we do, to the victims and survivors of domestic abuse across North East Lincolnshire.

Ours services are continuing to grow in our goal to change lives and save lives.