“I didn’t want to die. I just didn’t know how I could carry on and live.

I was in pain. I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. I had no hope left. I felt like I had failed as a mum, as a person, as a sister, a daughter, a friend.

I walked into Derby Women’s Centre not knowing what to expect. I just knew I couldn’t do it on my own anymore.

They listened. They didn’t judge me. They helped me breathe again.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe I could get through another day.”

Derby Women’s Centre is raising £12,000 to help keep vital support available for women, mothers, children and families across Derby and Derbyshire.

Your donation will help provide counselling, domestic abuse support, mental health and wellbeing activities, toiletries, food essentials, emergency practical help, and the everyday running costs that make this support possible.

This is why Derby Women’s Centre matters.

We support women, mothers and families who are facing domestic abuse, mental health crisis, poverty, isolation and trauma.

Some women come to us after years of abuse.

Some are mums fleeing with their children and nowhere safe to go.

Some are trying to hold everything together when inside they are falling apart.

Some just need someone to sit with them and say, “You are not on your own.”

Another woman told us:

“When I left, I was scared for myself, but I was even more scared for my children.

They had seen too much. They were anxious, unsettled and frightened. I didn’t know where we were going to live, how I would manage, or how I would make life feel normal for them again.

Derby Women’s Centre helped me get safe. They helped me understand what had happened to me. They helped me find the strength to keep going for my children.

We are in a safer place now. My children are settled in school. They are making friends. They laugh more. They sleep better. We are slowly building a new life.

I don’t know where we would be without that support.”

Sometimes support is counselling.

Sometimes it is help to get safe.

Sometimes it is toiletries, food, travel help, or a warm room and a cup of tea.

Sometimes it is the Freedom Programme — a group programme that helps survivors of domestic abuse understand what has happened to them, recognise controlling behaviour, rebuild confidence and begin to move forward safely.

Your donation could help provide:

£5 — counselling support

£10 — toiletries or hygiene essentials

£25 — emergency food, toiletries or travel support

£37.50 — one Freedom Programme session for survivors of domestic abuse

£50 — wellbeing and mental health activity materials

£100 — heating, phones, insurance and running costs

We are also asking people to consider giving £2 per month directly to Derby Women’s Centre. Small monthly gifts really do add up and help us plan support more consistently.

For anyone who would prefer to donate directly to Derby Women’s Centre, or set up a regular monthly gift, donations can be made by bank transfer:

Account name: Derby Women’s Centre

Sort code: 05-04-07

Account number: 44942805

Reference: Donation

Please only use the bank details shown on this official fundraiser or provided directly by Derby Women’s Centre. If you are unsure, contact Derby Women’s Centre before making a transfer.

Derby Women’s Centre is here, active and supporting women and families every week.

Please donate if you can. Please share if you can’t.

You may never know the woman or child you helped.

But they will.