County Durham Community Foundation 
‘Small charity’ aims high with Foundation funding
A ‘small’ charity with big ideas has developed an intensive new learning programme to help women move on from domestic abuse.
EVA Women’s Aid, based in Redcar, has now had its new course – Changes – accredited by a national examining body, OCN London.
CEO Richinda Taylor said the news of the successful accreditation was a moment of hope in a tough year, arriving just in time for International Women’s Day earlier in the month.
Hope for women
Richinda commented: “I am very proud of our team for what they have achieved. We have two courses with waiting lists, Freedom and EVA-lution, and Changes came in response to women asking us for the next step.
“It involves a small group and is extremely intensive and it’s about women recognising and growing their strengths rather than ‘fixing’ anyone. The course is an opportunity for women to focus on themselves and think about their goals and next steps in life.”
Developing the programme was made possible by a Tampon Tax funding grant of £9,800, through County Durham Community Foundation. EVA team members Gill Horner and Sarah Charlton wrote and produced the programme.
Richinda added: “The course is a testament to the women we work with who have gone through hell, kept going and come out of the other side. It is a tool to help them move on, become empowered and live lives that are free from abuse.
Small charity aims high
“We are a small charity with big ideas, and we’re very good at what we do. We are now working with another organisation to take the course to market to help ensure we have the money to keep offering our services.
“In a tough year, this has been a moment of hope and aspiration.”
Margaret Vaughan, Chief Operating Officer of County Durham Community Foundation said: “It is really special to stop and reflect on the fact that this small grant has enabled this charity to create a training programme that could change women’s lives for many years to come. This long term investment is a bold step towards reducing inequalities and building stronger communities.”
