Impact

2023 - 2024 saw the continuing development of our new Strategic Business Plan launched in July after 18 months of consultation and consolidation.

As an organisation, we had a lot to consider after a period of rapid growth, the impact of the pandemic and the cost of-living crisis. We saw demand for our services continue at the same rate as the previous year.

As a team of self-identifying women, this did not stop us from embracing some innovative and exciting projects along the way.

We achieved a quality assurance mark for our trauma-informed way of working with One Small Thing, we implemented a pilot project in partnership with the Kent Surrey Sussex Provider Collaborative for Secure Care consulting with women in forensic secure hospitals, and we maintained momentum with our networking and representation duties, amplifying women’s voices through many different forums.

These included as the women’s specialist on the MoJ’s Third Sector Reducing Re-offending Board and the Third Sector Strategic Partnerships Board as well as hosting a Ministerial visit and engaging with local and national Government officials. As a founding member of the National Women’s Justice Coalition we also continued to champion the importance of women’s community services.

In 2023 – 2024, 868 women and 14 children accessed one or more of our services; representing a 23% increase since 2022.

Find out how as an organisation, we’ve grown to meet this increased demand – download the latest annual report.

BWC Annual Report 2023-2024

Care not Custody

We worked with Probation and Sussex Police to launch Care not Custody, our new Out of Court Diversion for women coming into contact with the Police.

Alongside this referral stream we worked closely with Probation to work assertively with women at the point where they were at risk of breaching their Probation Community Orders.

"It has been a privilege to work with women at a vital moment where they
could breach their Probation community order, and intervene before women experience the on-going trauma of a system that is not designed to offer support for issues that have usually arisen
from trauma and multiple disadvantages."
- Care not Custody caseworker

Inspire

Inspire delivered one-to-one trauma-informed support sessions to women in the criminal justice system through face-to-face meetings, using online channels and through assertive and flexible outreach by phone and text.

“Inspire is has been the most useful thing that has happened to me in years.”
- Inspire client

The Inspire team delivered quality support to women, which was highlighted by the Ministry of Justice throughout the year, and consistently positive feedback from women.

In 2023-2024:

209 referrals were received.
169 women were supported.
83% of women reported an improvement in their attitudes, thinking and behaviour.

Mental Health Support Coordinator

The Mental Health Support Coordinator (MHSC) provided a pathway for women to receive trauma-informed mental health support through working closely alongside statutory mental health services.

The MHSC helped women navigate primary and secondary mental health services which opened up further avenues of support for those women with additional needs including substance misuse, unemployment and sexual violence.

In 2023-2024:

15 women were supported women were supported in total by the MHSC and received individualised trauma-informed casework according to their needs.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) Link Worker Project

MSK provided trauma-informed, emotional and practical support on a range of issues, including mental health, physical health, housing, benefits, relationships and well-being.

One-to-one support sessions were provided either over the phone or face-to-face at BWC or in Crawley Hospital.

We offered a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space for women to reflect on the challenges of living with chronic conditions, offering support and strategies to help with self-care and well being.

"A safe space to talk. I can speak in confidence and know I’m not being judged or that my personal information will be shared with others."
- Woman using BWC services

In 2023-2024:

39 women were supported.
238 support sessions were delivered.
84% women reported a positive change in feeling more satisfied with their life.

Support Services

Our Women’s Hubs provided free in-person, practical and emotional support and information in safe, women-only environments.

Support Services held three sessions per week in different community spaces spread across Brighton & Hove, including an Out of Hours Hub.

“The Women’s Hub alongside the foodbank has made me feel less anxious and get me time to decompress. I like to connect with other people because I don’t get to do it often in a safe space."
- Woman who uses the BWC Hub

In 2023-2024

226 women were supported.
178 sessions provided through Hubs, the phone line and foodbank.
94% of women reported feeling less isolated.
Our weekly foodbank supported 146 households with 1165 parcels of food.

Tools to Restore Emotional Well-being Workshops

Tools to Restore Emotional Well-being workshops, named by the first group of women to attend, were developed in partnership between the Women’s Accommodation Support Service, the Women’s Peer to Peer Support Service and Service Users.

“I’m really grateful for the tools that I’m already using daily.
Knowledge has given me solutions. It’s also nice to be around a supportive and kind environment.
Thank you."
- Woman who uses BWC services

In 2023-2024:

24 women attended the Tools to Restore Emotional Well-being workshops

ToyBox Early Years

ToyBox Early Years was rated outstanding in all areas following an Ofsted inspection in July 2023.

The Ofsted Inspector commented on how our leadership, partnerships with parents and children’s well-being was held at the heart of our service, ensuring the children are “highly valued, respected and strongly supported by nurturing practitioners”.

“ToyBox has been a very important part of my daughter's life.
It is a space she feels safe and a community she feels she belongs to.”
- Parent of child who attends ToyBox

In 2023-2024:

14 children were supported.
570 hours of childcare were provided.
142 support sessions were provided to parents.

Women’s Accommodation Support Service

Through its flexible, trauma-informed approach the Women’s Accommodation Support Service (WASS) team provided light touch information over the phone or at one of the weekly women’s Hubs, and longer term casework, advocacy and information so women understood their options and rights.

Our weekly women-only Hubs in Eastbourne, St Leonards-On-Sea and Worthing offered a safe space for any self identifying woman to access advice, information and informal support as well as positive peer interactions.

The Hubs acted as a step into more intense casework when needed and also a point of contact for as long as a woman needed it.

“I have been coming to the Hub for a long time now. Geri has been amazing, she has helped me with my confidence and sorting everything out.
Isabela is so friendly and makes everyone feel so welcomed, she is always there to help if needed. I really enjoy coming to the Hub."
- Woman using BWC hub

In 2023-2024:

170 women were supported through casework.
87 women were supported at the Hubs.
89% of women of women reported reducing risks and feeling safe.

Women’s Counselling and Psychotherapy

The Women’s Counselling and Psychotherapy service continued to offer 12 sessions of talking therapy (Psychodynamic, Humanistic and Integrative) as well as Dance Movement Psychotherapy.

The service benefited from a domestic violence workshop as well as training on working therapeutically with survivors of sexual violence from renowned therapist and writer, Christiane Sanderson. The training was to increase skill and understanding of the therapy team as a high proportion of clients are affected by these issues.

“I felt very comfortable and safe. I am very grateful to BWC. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re awesome."
- Women’s Counselling and Psychotherapy Client

In 2023-2024:

52 women received therapy.
542 therapy sessions were attended.
88% of women reported reduced hopelessness and/or greater happiness.

Women’s Forensic Mental Health Pathway Pilot

BWC conducted a three-month consultation with the KSS Provider Collaborative of support services available to women across two forensic secure hospitals in the Sussex and Kent areas.

The initial consultation, in collaboration with Recovery Partners, looked at women’s support needs in the two hospitals and gathered feedback in order to implement well-being activities that would help women in the hospitals to improve their mental health and transition into the community.

In 2023-2024:

24 women were supported.
18 Enhancement Worker group sessions were held across both wards.
7 one-to-one Community Link Worker sessions were held.

Women’s Peer to Peer Support Service

The Women's Peer to Peer Support Services continued to run six peer groups throughout the year with an additional weekly group added in Eastbourne in June.

Our weekly energy reset session continued as did a range of courses and workshops.

This year witnessed developments in the knowledge base and planning around co-production, laying the foundational work for practical application within the service. This included the setup of our BWC-wide forum for women.

“BWC [P2P] prove what they are just by how they speak, very calming, very reassuring, assuring, makes you feel very welcomed and part of something."
- Peer

In 2023-2024:

224 peer groups were held over the year.
106 women participated in groups, courses and workshops.
90% gained greater social connection from their engagement in the service.

Previous Annual Reports are available here.

Impact

Women's Hubs Opening Times

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