Feature

With International Women’s Day on March 8, an award-winning women’s charity is re-launching its ’Sheroes’ initiative and reminding Plymouth residents about its core mission

Transforming the lives of thousands of women and their children is Plymouth-based charity Trevi. Despite a diffi cult couple of years due to the Covid pandemic, Trevi’s team has been working hard to Formed 29 years ago, Trevi aims to provide a place make sure their lifesaving services are still run to where all women in recovery can access good quality protect women and their children. interventions in a safe and nurturing space where One member of the team is chief executive Hannah they can heal, grow and thrive. From Shead, who in 2021 was nominated for rehab and health to housing and the Women in Social Enterprise award employment, Trevi helps any woman 2021. in recovery move from ‘surviving’ to Hannah was nominated by Bridges ‘thriving’. Outcomes Partnerships, who are kind When a woman has reached a funders of the Pause Project, based at tough crossroads or crisis, Trevi’s Trevi, which works with women who compassionate and expert team will have experienced or are at risk of repeat provide the treatment and strength to removals of children from their care. help her break free, giving her a fresh Hannah said: ‘In what has been an start in life. incredibly challenging year, I am proud Trevi’s work is delivered across three of the work Trevi has continued to main centres: Jasmine Mother’s achieve in supporting women aff ected Recovery Centre, to help mothers by domestic violence and abuse and break addiction for good and to be the enabling them to remain with their best mother she can be; Sunfl ower children.’ Women’s Centre, the only women’s Hannah has been CEO of Trevi since centre in Plymouth, supports and 2011 and has been in the social care empowers more than 500 local fi eld for 20 years, working in both the women, many with complex needs statutory and voluntary sectors. Since and experience of trauma and abuse; joining Trevi, she has established their and the Daff odil Family Centre Sunfl ower Women’s Centre and the that enables parenting capacity to be Daff odil Family Assessment Centre. assessed whilst the child remains in the ‘Trevi is a special service,’ added care of the parent. Hannah. ‘The way we describe ourselves is that we Trevi supports more than 550 women and children are a leading South West Women’s Charity. every year. ‘We amplify the voices of women and we work with

Hannah

Shead “ We amplify the voices of women and we work with women whose rights haven’t been met - we make sure that the voices of women and children are heard ”

women whose rights haven’t been met - we make sure that the voices of women and children are heard. ‘Following the Sarah Everard murder at the beginning of 2021 people have started to look at the violence towards women and they are worried and talking about the issue - suddenly it’s a mainstream concern where people are listening to the issues and have compassion. ‘At Trevi we adapt and respond, and we learn and develop from the people that we support. ‘There is a great sense of community in Plymouth and the donations we have received from people in Plymouth is amazing.’ Last year Trevi launched its fi rst ‘Sheroes’ event which was embraced by so many people - and in 2022 the charity hopes the initiative will prove popular once again. This year, the theme for International Women’s Day (March 8) is #breakthebias and importantly it’s a time to celebrate women’s achievement. Trevi recognises that there are many female heroes – Sheroes. With Covid-19, many Sheroes have come to the fore over the past two years. Women who have been on the frontline of the NHS; mothers who have balanced the frontline of the NHS; mothers who have balanced homeschooling and working from home; volunteers, or homeschooling and working from home; volunteers, or women who have had the strength to go through therapy women who have had the strength to go through therapy like Trevi’s Jasmine Mother’s Recovery. like Trevi’s Jasmine Mother’s Recovery. Whoever they are, the charity wants to celebrate those special Sheroes as part of International Women’s Day. The charity was born in 1993 from the desire of four drug and alcohol workers (including the late Roma French, mother of Dawn French) in Plymouth to create a unique environment for women and their children experiencing drug and alcohol misuse issues to grow and create positive futures. As Roma was sat in a café in Rome dreaming up her vision for the service, she could hear the waters cascading at the nearby beautiful and picturesque Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city of Rome and one of the most famous fountains in the world. The fountain is at the junction of three roads and marks the terminal point of the Acqua Vergine that revived Aqua Virgo, one of the aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome for more than 400 years. Inspired by this Fountain of Hope, the name Trevi House was born - rebranded to Trevi in October 2020. n

For more information on Trevi or the Sheroes initiative:

Visit trevi.org.uk