Story
Why I'm fundraising
Bridge are running a 'Women's Crisis House' campaign aiming to raise £50,000 – which they will match‑fund – to buy a house for women in crisis and create a safety‑net so many women are currently missing.
This is deeply personal to me. This isn’t just about my professional role in the Lotus Service – it’s also about my old life, and about what becomes possible when the right help arrives at the right time. I know what the right support at the right moment can do.
“I want other women to receive the help they need. I want them to have the chance to rebuild their lives – just like I was able to.”
There was a time when I had nothing.
I experienced homelessness and substance use myself. I didn’t have a home. I didn’t have a car. I didn’t have a job. I didn't have a future. Now I do. Bridge helped me rebuild my life and rebuild my family. That’s why this fundraiser feels like giving back.
“Bridge stood by me when I needed it most. Now I want to use my skills, my focus, my health and my networks to make sure other women have the same chance.
The Problem
Right now, there is a real gap in the social safety net for women in crisis. Many women experiencing homelessness are offered mixed‑gender, multiple‑occupancy emergency accommodation. On paper, this meets a housing need. In reality, it often isn’t fit for purpose.
"Many women lose this housing because they can’t keep to rigid rules that don’t reflect the reality of their lives shaped by trauma, substance use and exploitation.
Women are asked to leave because they struggle to keep their room to standard, stay overnight, meet abstinence rules, have pets for companionship.
“Housing rules can sound simple unless you’re living a chaotic life shaped by trauma and addiction. Women don’t need rules that set them up to fail – they need safety, time and trusted support.
Many women don’t apply for emergency accommodation because they already know how it will end. The rules don’t reflect their lives, relapse feels inevitable, and shared accommodation with strangers has proven unsafe before.
The Solution
Women don’t need to have everything sorted before they’re given somewhere safe to live.
“What I’ve learned is that housing works when it fits real life.
The Women’s Crisis House will give women their own safe space to breathe, stabilise and begin rebuilding their lives. Without the right housing, women stay stuck. With it, everything can start to change.
“That’s why this matters to me, and why I’m attempting the Three Yorkshire Peaks in one day – something I’ve never done, and something not many women living in Bradford get the chance to do.
Thank you for supporting this campaign to help women in crisis find safety, dignity, and a way forward.
How your donation helps
Every pound donated will be matched by Bridge, doubling our impact. Together, we can create a safe, single‑occupancy home and provide the one‑to‑one support women need to rebuild their lives.
£15 - Helps provide essentials on arrival – toiletries, food, warm bedding – so a woman can feel safe and welcomed from day one.
£30 - Contributes towards utilities and day‑to‑day costs that keep a crisis house running as a calm, stable space.
£50 - Helps fund one‑to‑one support time, giving a woman space to decompress, feel safe, and begin stabilising.
£100 - Supports intensive outreach and trusted relationship‑building – the kind of support women tell us makes the biggest difference.
£250 - Helps cover a short stay in safe, single‑occupancy accommodation, giving a woman time away from danger and chaos.
£500 - Makes a significant contribution towards creating and sustaining a women‑only crisis space that meets women where they’re at.
"Any amount you give helps.
Lisa