Staffordshire Women’s Aid named ‘charity champ’ in nationwide appreciation campaign
Staffordshire domestic violence charity receives recognition from Fund donor, Aviva as part of National Emergencies Trust #NETCharityChamps campaign.
Staffordshire-based charity, Staffordshire Women’s Aid, has received recognition for its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a nationwide appreciation campaign by the National Emergencies Trust (NET), including a special message of thanks from Aviva.
The Charity Champs campaign, which is being backed by a host of celebrities and companies on social media this week, is celebrating the efforts of frontline charities and groups, like Staffordshire Women’s Aid, that have worked tirelessly to support their communities for nearly a year now.
A video to launch the campaign features HRH The Duke of Cambridge, who is Royal Patron of the National Emergencies Trust, as well as Alesha Dixon, Pixie Lott and many others who’ve lent their support to its Coronavirus Appeal over the last year. While Fearne Cotton, Stephen Fry and many others have been posting messages of support on social media across the week.
Staffordshire Women’s Aid helps and empowers women, children and men who are subjected to domestic and sexual violence and abuse to live safe lives. They have been using funding from the NET’s Coronavirus Appeal, which launched in March last year, delivering vital food and essentials to families seeking support at the refuge, as well as creating new accommodation units to help vulnerable women and children to escape domestic violence during lockdowns.
As part of the Charity Champs campaign, Dickie James, Chief Executive Officer of Staffordshire Women’s Aid, took part in a video chat with Zoe Wishart, Vulnerable Customer Representative at insurer, Aviva, and representative of the Covid-19 Support Fund, established during 2020 by the long-term savings and insurance industry, which donated£20million to the NET Coronavirus Appeal last year.
In the video, Dickie James talks through the support they give throughout the stages of domestic abuse and violence. This ranges from communication to prevent abuse, through community outreach services and training in schools. Ms James highlights the impact of the funding, she says “It’s made an enormous difference. We’re currently having live messaging put on our website because particularly with younger victims that’s the way they want to reach us.”
Ms Wishart was a part of the team from Aviva which developed a domestic abuse awareness initiative to provide training to all employees. Praising the efforts of Staffordshire Women’s Aid in adapting to the COVID-19 crisis, Ms Wishart says in the video, “It’s incredible and very important that it gives people a safe space to start talking. People having that outlet to safety, it’s amazing to give them that opportunity, how wonderful.”
Staffordshire Women’s Aid is one of more than 490 projects to receive a grant from the NET Coronavirus Appeal through the Community Foundation for Staffordshire. To-date the National Emergencies Trust’s appeal has raised £97million and more than £94million of this has reached communities across the four nations.
Mhairi Sharp, CEO of the National Emergencies Trust, said: “For nearly a year now people in charities all around the UK have put others’ needs before their own to help those hard-hit by the pandemic. The creativity and compassion they’ve shown in the face of such difficult times is truly inspirational. We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and thank charity champs like Staffordshire Women’s Aid and we’re so pleased that Aviva are able to join us.”
To watch the Aviva and Staffordshire Women’s Aid Charity Champs Chat visit: