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Introduction to BRIDGEfriends:
BRIDGEfriends are a Christian organisation based in Grimsby, offering friendship and support to the most vulnerable women within the community. Founded by Sue Jewitt the organisation started in 2009 to help the rebuilding of lives that have been deemed hopeless; to encourage them back into mainstream society, achieve their full potential and realise their dreams. This is achieved by building relationships through a team of dedicated volunteers, and working in partnership with other agencies both locally and nationally; whose commitment and concern is the welfare of those assisted.
Aims:
• See vulnerable women break free and stay free from drug, alcohol, and other addictions, depression, homelessness and those gripped into prostitution.
• Identify those at risk of entering a destructive lifestyle and provide them with the help they need to get them ‘back on track’.
• Provide a relapse prevention service that addresses the temptations of returning to former addictions and lifestyles.
• Since BRIDGEfriends was founded they have sought to forge and develop close partnerships with other agencies to strengthen the community.
What they have found from the evening outreach:
Nearly all the women who are working as prostitutes do so to fund drug or alcohol addictions, however some that feel that there is no other way out of extreme poverty and do it to make ends meet; in order to buy their children things that they need, which their benefits don’t cover.
The age range is between 18 – 36 and have on occasion met women over 40.
Many are survivors of physical and sexual abuse. Some women are victims of domestic violence or other life threatening situations and have been helped to flee to safety.
Beatings and rapes occur and are rarely reported, mostly because they think they will not be believed or that nothing will be done about it. Sometimes they feel too ashamed to confide in the police or other organisations.
A large number are disconnected from their families and have little or no contact. Most crave to reconnect with their loved ones.
Homelessness, sleeping ‘rough’ and pending evictions are common events. Many have backgrounds of poverty and of being in care and some have not completed their education.
BRIDGEfriends offer grants from agencies that have addressed these issues, along with helping with form filling and encourage and support them to access basic education courses.
Many self harm and are physically scarred, self-harm is often the expression of inner turmoil and pain, which is also a silent cry for help. These situations can leave a vulnerable woman feeling a deep sense of shame about her, which may lead her to isolate herself from family and friends.
In 2014 the kind donations from corporates and other organisations, helped BRIDGEfriends to befriend 125 of some of the most marginalised women in our local community including 101 street sex workers, 6 non UK sex workers (including a victim of trafficking) and 18 vulnerable women with the following assistance:
Prevent Homelessness, provide transport to hospital and other vital appointments, visit ladies in prison, provide warm clothes and food in emergency situations, take ladies to social events, refer and assist into rehabilitation, give out workbooks and other literature, attend emergencies, give emotional support and assistance, support and representation in court.
There is still much work to be done and needs are great, so for those of you that may be interested in finding out more about BRIDGEfriends or would like to help, please visit their website: http://BRIDGEfriends.org.uk or call: Sue Jewitt 07775 524 698 or Jo Smith 07538 045 477
• Become a volunteer fundraiser
• Become a volunteer befriender
• Giving of non cash items
They will be holding a charity cabaret event in April 15th 2016 to raise money to replace the very tired outreach vehicle. Just £6,700 has already been raised to go towards it.