Always on
This project successfully funded on 19th April 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Charity closes - help give women a safe ending
London, England, United Kingdom
Aim
Urgent support needed to ensure women receive safe, therapeutic endings before WISH closes forever
Why I'm crowdfunding
I’m sharing this today as someone who has witnessed the quiet but extraordinary impact of the women’s mental health charity WISH that has supported countless women over the last 40 years. The team behind this organisation has done remarkable, often unseen work. This is personal to me as for 22 years I have watched my mum walk alongside women through experiences and challenges many of us can barely imagine - in prison, secure hospitals and in the community.
Started 40 years ago by Prue Stevenson and 2 women who had been through the secure psychiatric system WISH pioneered advocacy and transparency in high security hospitals and prisons.
It’s devastating that the charity is now closing its doors and many women are still in the midst of their counselling journeys — and they urgently need our support.
Women at risk
Ending therapy suddenly can be deeply distressing and, as the BACP highlights, is neither ethical nor safe. These women are working through trauma, anxiety, grief, or significant life struggles, and an abrupt cut‑off can cause real harm. These sessions have had a real impact on previous clients, and the thought of them stopping without proper closure for the 34 women currently in therapy is heart breaking. Every one of them deserves a safe, supported, therapeutic ending — one that offers stability, safety, and a sense of completion.
That’s why I’m helping to raise the remaining funds needed to make this possible.
Completing training for new social care workers
Over the last few decades WISH has also helped to train many many women working towards a career in the social care sector. Right now they have 6 placement students who wish to finish their hours supporting the Women at WISH to become qualified.
This crowdfund will go directly towards:
- Continuing counselling sessions long enough to end safely
- Supporting the qualified therapists who are guiding women through this transition
- Covering essential safeguarding and administrative costs during the closure period
- Providing placement students the learning hours they require over the closure period
Although WISH is closing soon Harmonia counselling practice will be able to continue the counselling work with this funding. Harmonia is a not-for-profit made up of the same experienced counselling team, able to provide continuity, carrying forward the same therapeutic values, clinical standards and commitment to client care using trauma informed practice.
If you’ve ever believed in the importance of mental health support for women — or if WISH has touched your life, your community, or your values — please consider contributing. Every donation, big or small, helps ensure that these women are not left without the care they need at such a vulnerable time.
Let’s come together to honour the impact this charity has had in the last 40 years and to stand beside the women who still need its support.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made