Helping women find the strength to cope

FOOD banks, debt advice, sheltered accommodation and support for survivors of modern slavery are just a few examples of the practical and caring support that The Salvation Army provides. But one element of its outreach that is perhaps less widely known is its support for survivors of domestic abuse – a line of work it has been involved in since its earliest days.

When the church and charity was founded in the late 19th century, it set up rescue homes for women fleeing domestic abuse and its work with survivors continues to this day. One way in which it provides help is through hosting support cafés for vulnerable women, where Salvation Army staff and volunteers provide a listening ear and practical support.

Captain Annette Wicks leads a Salvation Army church which runs a support café that hosts weekly drop-ins.

‘The Link café,’ she explains, ‘is a safe place where women who have fled domestic abuse can find peer support and be linked with other services – with a cup of coffee or tea and always some TLC.’

Annette adds that the emotional and practical help the café provides plays an important part in enabling domestic abuse survivors to find their feet again.

‘Women are often traumatised by their experience and feel unable to deal with the many challenges they face in rebuilding their lives and the lives of their children, accessing health services, schools, benefits, and housing, never mind facing the courts,’ she says. ‘By supporting them at their own pace we are able to help women to find the strength to cope one day at a time.’

One woman who received assistance from one of The Salvation Army’s support cafés is Marianna. After a troubled childhood in which her father physically abused her, Marianna found what she thought was a ray of hope in her 20s when she met a kind and considerate man called Jack. They set up home together, and she became pregnant soon afterwards. However, Jack gradually revealed his true colours and began subjecting her to cruelty and abuse.

‘He became violent in the second year of our relationship,’ Marianna remembers. ‘Once he even broke a beer bottle over my head.’

Jack became increasingly controlling, particularly about money. But Marianna decided that she had to stay with him for the sake of their two children.

One day Marianna made a shocking discovery. She spotted a light blinking by her bed and was horrified to discover that it was a hidden camera. Jack had been recording and uploading videos of her online.

She had endured Jack’s abusive behaviour for years, but this was the final straw and she reported him to the police. He was arrested and served with a court order that banned him from any further contact with her.

While Marianna was now safe from Jack’s abuse, she was unable to find any sense of peace. She had been robbed of her self-respect, felt as if she couldn’t cope on her own and faced significant financial difficulties as she had depended on Jack for money.

Around that time, she was introduced to the support café. It became a welcome and much needed solace to her. Marianna felt that the women at the support café made her feel ‘so comfortable and accepted’. Finally, she had found somewhere where she no longer had to feel anxious or ashamed.

Many of the women in the group that Marianna joined had experienced domestic violence themselves and they continue to be a source of strength to her. ‘The women help each other and even hearing other people’s stories is helpful,’ she says. Staff and volunteers listened sympathetically to Marianna’s story and signposted her to the relevant support services. She received food parcels from The Salvation Army for her and her children. The church and charity helped her to find a solicitor to ensure that she kept custody of her two children. The staff also showed her how to apply for financial support and equipped her to secure a new job as a youth worker. She is currently training to become a teaching assistant and says she now knows that she can turn her life around.

The Salvation Army serves those of all faiths and none, but its work was founded on Christianity, a faith which inspires many of its staff and volunteers to serve others. Christians believe that God unconditionally cares for and loves everyone, bestowing them with unique value and purpose.

As a Christian minister, Annette says that the motivation behind the work of The Salvation Army through its support café is that ‘every woman is made in the image of God and is loved by God’.

She continues: ‘The love we show to our ladies allows them to experience that. It takes such strength and courage to escape domestic abuse. Our project helps these brave women who have broken free to stay free.’ l Some names have been changed. For more information about the help that The Salvation Army gives visit salvationarmy.org.uk

THE War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances, for publication. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

Becoming a Christian

There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God

Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Amen