Dear lovely friends,
I work for a charity called One25, a charity that seeks to enable women who are abused and trapped in a life of street sex-work to break free from this abusive lifestyle and achieve their full potential and to make healthy life choices and foster positive relationships with their families and communities.
The thing is, the recession and the opening of Naomi House has hit us hard and we're having a funding crisis. One25 have launched an appeal to try and raise £50,000 by May 2010, which would go some way to sorting us out. Naomi House, where I work, is a residential family unit providing intensive, therapeutic and practical 24 hour support to pregnant women and mothers with babies where maternal substance misuse and risk from sex-work has been a problem. It's a safe haven, enabling the mums to change their lifestyle while equipping them with the skills they need to provide a stable, caring home and give their babies a better start in life. It's an amazing palce to work and it's a privelege to see hope entering the lives of people who thought they were at a dead end.
Anyway, I really wanted to do something to raise money for this cause- not just because it's where I work but because I really, really think the work One25 does is amazing and because, as a Christian and a feminist and a woman and well, a human being, I feel a duty to do what I can to break the cycles of abuse, violence and addiction that we see too often in out society. And so......I'm giving up coffee. Until May and until we've raised £50,000. Those that know me, know how much I LOVE coffee. I NEED coffee. I WANT coffee all the time. And don't think I'm giving it up for health reasons, I'm not. I'm giving it up because it was the only thing I could think of to do to raise some money...
So, I ask you, dear friends.to give some money- sponser me and make this caffeine-free hell worthwhile...or maybe, consider giving up your daily Starbucks and giving the money you'ld save to One25.
Much love,
Lydia
p.s.
The website is here......http://www.one25.org.uk/
And here are some statistics about the women who access our services to get you thinking:
99% are addicted to one or more Class A drugs and/or alcohol
In 2008 we recorded 134 violent incidents reported to us by the women including domestic violence, rape and armed attacks
All suffer from chronic physical, mental and/or sexual health problems and half suffer from acute ill health*
66% are homeless *
62% were abused as children*
38% have been through fostering or children’s homes*
46% went through the criminal justice system in 2007
32% left school at 14 or younger *
Their age range is 17-49
65% have had children but 79% of those have had their children
removed from them
Only 1% of violent incidents against street based sex workers
results in a conviction**
* Jeal, N and Salisbury, C (2004) @Self reported experiences of health services among street based prostitutes’ British Medical Journal 65 pp 123
** (2001) ‘Violence against sex workers’ British medical Journal 332 pp524
Raised:
116%
Raised so far: £1,460.00
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You never fail to amaze me Lyds! Congratulations on making it and I hope they realise what an absolute superstar they have in you xxx Donation by Polly Dunseath on 17/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Although i don't drink coffee and therefore don't know the pain of giving up, I think it's amazing what you and the charity are doing xx Donation by Kirsty Bishop on 14/05/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Boil the kettle, crack open the syrups....it's coffee time xxxx Donation by Laura McManamon on 30/04/10 |
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Donation by Anita Morley on 30/04/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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I would NEVER be able to do this. Well done. :) xx Donation by Philip on 30/04/10 |
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this is for the last few hours! i'm totally buying you a coffee next time i see you xx Donation by Ellie on 30/04/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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I'm so impressed - well done my love! :) Donation by Jessica Tinker on 30/04/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Well you're just awesome :) xx Donation by Stevey on 24/04/10 |
£20.00 |
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You're amazing x Donation by Nicola Quick on 24/04/10 |
£35.00 + £9.87 Gift Aid |
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Donation by Martha Pennel on 22/04/10 |
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Heya very long time no speak but well done on all you've done for this charity :)) Donation by Hannah Stobbs on 19/04/10 |
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Amazing stuff, Lydia. You've made a big difference to One25's funding appeal, you're a star! Donation by Josie Hill on 18/03/10 |
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid |
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Great stuff Lyd, hope your doing really well! Donation by Daniel Coghill on 12/03/10 |
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid |
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come aaaaannnnnn!! xxx Donation by anonymous on 18/02/10 |
£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid |
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Well done Lydia :) It's for a very worthy cause too, you must be very proud x Donation by Heather McIntosh on 14/02/10 |
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid |
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well done lydia! :-) Donation by mike on 14/02/10 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
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BIG loves for this - i properly could not do it! xxx Donation by ellie on 09/02/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Donation by Rosie Walters on 09/02/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Well done - keep it up! Donation by Julia Stafford on 09/02/10 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Weel Done YOU!! Donation by kerri hall on 09/02/10 |
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Donation by Peter Harrison on 08/02/10 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Try eating chocolate instead! Well done so far and good luck till May Donation by Pat Douglas (volunteer) on 08/02/10 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
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Donation by Caroline Sandford on 04/02/10 |
£10.00 |
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basically, you're amazing. Donation by Amy Cole on 04/02/10 |
£200.00 |
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682 + 18 = £700! Woo... only 300 to go! Donation by Matt Hallett on 04/02/10 |
£18.00 |
| * Total raised online: | £1,460.00 |
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| Offline donations: | £0.00 |
| Mobile donations: | £0.00 |
| Total Raised: | £1,460.00 |
| Gift Aid plus supplement: | £298.13 |
* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out
how much it is and what we do for it.