In April 2020, the Cornwall Insight team voted for our new charity of the year. We chose ‘Leeway Domestic Violence and Abuse Services, a charity local to our head office in Norwich.
In summary, Leeway has the following:
- A domestic abuse helpline for free, confidential and non-judgmental advice
- One-to-one support and group work through their Children and Young People service
- The Power to Change programme with free 6-week sessions for women
- Eight safe houses (refuges) in Norfolk
- Male victim service
- Training and consultancy services for businesses
- Community services such as drop-in sessions
- Advocacy (IDVA) service
- Rural Communities service
- Project SafetyNet+ for free, practical emotional support to adults from migrant communities
Throughout the year, the charity committee organised virtual fundraising events to involve the team and their friends and family in raising money. This proved to be a difficult task overall as the UK went into multiple lockdowns and had restrictions on meeting up and group activities.
Despite the challenges, events such as ‘Dog of the year competition’, Valentine’s Day and Christmas hampers, 5k Walk/Run challenge, clothes collections, generous donations and more, helped the team beat their ambitious target of £2000.
A big thank you to everyone who donated and took part in the activities, and to the charity committee; Marwa Ramsi (Chair), Emily Matthews (Treasurer), Vicky Merrison, Lucy Dolton, Charlotte Nelson, Oliver Archer and Laura Woolsey.
Emily Matthews is chairing for the new financial year, and our new charity of the year, as voted for by the team, is ‘Norwich Food Hub.
