Target reached!
With another £2800 we can double the number of hours of budgeting and other financia...
Ella's - towards financial freedom
London, England, United Kingdom
Aim
To ensure survivors of trafficking and exploitation have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free.
At Ella’s, we do everything we can to ensure survivors of trafficking and exploitation have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free.
More than 35 women and 25 children a year currently benefit from our work. The women we support are highly traumatised survivors of trafficking, exploitation and other forms of violence. They come from countries all around the world as well as the UK, and most have complex mental health needs.
We offer safe house accommodation for women when they are most vulnerable, care to help them recover, and long-term community-based support to help them build safe, independent lives.
Our support is essential to the safety and freedom of survivors. Without it, many would fall back into danger.
By supporting Ella’s, you will help to create lasting and positive change for some of the UK’s most marginalised women. Women like Emina:
Emina was trafficked from southern Europe to the UK a number of years ago, and was hurt and exploited in many different ways. She lives with post traumatic stress disorder as a result. The memories are so traumatic that Emina is unable to talk about those times, but she loves to talk about her life as it is now.
‘Ella’s is like a hug!’ says Emina, wrapping her arms around herself. ‘If someone needs help, they are welcome at Ella’s. It’s safe and protecting. The people, the place, the work – all of it.’
Emina moved into one of our safe houses two years ago. She cries when she remembers what it was like to feel safe for the first time in so long.
‘When I first came here, I felt like a queen,’ says Emina. ‘I could never have imagined that I’d be able to live in a place like this. My own room, a bathroom, a kitchen to use when I want. It was a lot to take in. It is so different to my past, because no-one is hurting me here. They are only protecting me.’
Emina has come so far during her time at Ella’s. We’ve helped her access the counselling and mental health support she needs, apply for benefits, go to English language classes and more. She is now more confident and is building relationships with other people for the first time in a long time. Emina has started to think about her goals for the future, and is preparing to move on from our safe house.
To support her towards economic independence Emina attended one to one budgeting sessions with her caseworker who also helped her apply for and maintain universal credit, housing benefit, and personal independent payments.
‘Before, I was thinking only of how to survive day-to-day. But now, I can think about my future. I would like to have my own place to live, and I would like to do a job where I can help other people who need help.
‘At Ella’s, I have been given the space and support to grow stronger. The people here truly help people like me. I want Ella’s to grow and help more women.’
Please choose to support Ella's today. Our work is urgent and vital, to help women like Emina recover and stay safe.
Your gift will be life changing for women like Emina. Thank you.
Photos: Tom Price/Ella's
Aviva Community Fund has provided £2,800 of match funding
Aviva Cost of Living Boost has provided £2,800 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 20th September 2022