As we celebrate one year of In Her Steps we wanted this event to create a lasting impact beyond our own community.

Over the past year, we've been incredibly grateful for the support, encouragement and trust from our community. This fundraiser is our way of giving something back by supporting two charities whose work reflects the values at the heart of Stepping Into Her: empowerment, safety, resilience and confidence.

We have chosen to support Women's Aid and Women for Women International, two organisations dedicated to empowering women in different but equally important ways.

Here in the UK, 1 in 3 women experience domestic abuse during their lifetime. Recent campaigns during the Men's World Cup have highlighted the devastating reality of domestic abuse. This reminds us for some women and children, occasions like these can bring fear rather than celebration.

For over 50 years, Women's Aid has provided life-changing support to women escaping abusive relationships while campaigning for lasting change that helps create a future free from domestic abuse and misogyny. Every donation helps women access safety, specialist support and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. A £10 donation can connect a survivor with a Women's Aid case worker, helping her take that vital first step towards safety.

We also wanted to extend our support beyond our own communities. Around the world, millions of women and girls are living through conflict, displacement and unimaginable hardship. While we may hear about these crises in the news or see them on social media, it can be difficult to truly understand the realities faced by those experiencing them every day.

That is why we are also supporting Women for Women International. Their work empowers women affected by war and conflict by providing the skills, knowledge and support they need to rebuild their lives with dignity, confidence and hope. They help women create sustainable livelihoods, strengthen their communities and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Through this fundraiser, we hope to stand alongside women both here at home and across the world. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference.

Donating through JustGiving is quick, secure and easy. Every contribution made through this page will be withdrawn by us and split equally between Women's Aid and Women for Women International.

To keep things simple, we've combined our fundraising into one page so everyone can see the total amount we've raised together.

Once our fundraiser has ended, we'll make the donations to both charities and share the final amount raised, along with proof of our donations, on our Instagram page. We hope seeing our progress will inspire even more people to get involved and help us make a meaningful difference.

Thank you for supporting our first anniversary and for helping us empower women both here in the UK and around the world. Every donation, no matter the size, is truly appreciated. 💜