Ella's

Happy Christmas from all of us at Ella’s, and thank you for your support.      This beautiful painting is by Aisha, one of the survivors we’ve worked with this year…       ‘I was so depressed before, after everything that happened to me. Now, I’m completely different. My idea of womanhood is completely changing,’ says Aisha. ‘Here at Ella’s, we can follow our dreams. My goal for the future is to go to college and become a graphic designer. I used to feel so hopeless, but now I don’t. Hopefully, God willing, I will have a good future.’      This is what it’s all about: not just surviving, but thriving. Not just feeling better, but feeling great. Not just feeling safe, but feeling strong!      Have a lovely break, and we'll see you in 2025.       #happychristmas #thankyou

Aren’t TRIBE Freedom Foundation TRIBE | Natural Energy⚡️ amazing! Look at this. The best start to the day, yesterday, visiting them and collecting this giant cheque for our work at Ella's

Freedom is a basic right we should all be able to enjoy, and yet for millions this is not the case. The Recognised Pearl Statement Popon® helps shine a light on the reality of slavery today. 100% of profits from the Pearl Popons are donated to support Ella's and Justice & Care. They could just be the perfect gift 🎁 Find them at https://lnkd.in/dw9wweWe 

A huge thank you to the staff at Lockton for hosting the Ella's Christmas party last week. We had a magical time, and we are so grateful for the effort put in to making it such a special evening for the woman and children we work with ⭐

We’re recruiting for a new Chair to lead our Board of Trustees, as well as a Safeguarding Trustee. Both roles are crucial to the governance and development of Ella's as an organisation, as our mission to unlock freedom among survivors of trafficking and exploitation. Aspiring trustees should understand the work we do, be compassionate, support Ella’s’ development to reach more women and be able to help Ella’s deliver the best outcomes for survivors. We would particularly love to hear from people who have benefited from a service like Ella’s, so we can learn from your lived experience. Deadline for applications: 9:00am on Monday 13 January 2025 #Trustee #Chair #Safeguarding https://lnkd.in/dTe__bX

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Ella's! We're feeling the festive spirit, thanks to the stunning Christmas tree generously donated by our friends at N1 Garden Centre. Ella's safe house residents had a wonderful time decorating the tree together. Roll on Christmas, we're ready for you 🎄

You did it! We reached our Christmas Appeal match funding target, with more than £10,683 raised so far. The appeal will keep running through Christmas, but donations will no longer be doubled. Thank you so much for giving generously to help survivors like Aisha 💕   ‘Here at Ella’s, we can follow our dreams. My goal for the future is to go to college and become a graphic designer,’ says Aisha. ‘Confidence is so important for me, I had none before and was so low. I used to feel so hopeless, but now I don’t. Hopefully, God willing, I will have a good future.’  You help make this possible, thank you 🙏   Massive shout out to The Cottman Foundation, Balham Baptist Church and The Childhood Trust for match funding to double public donations. And to Big Give for hosting the Christmas Challenge 🙌  

⭐️ We’ve raised 70% of our match funding target, thank you so much if you’ve donated! We now have three more days left left to raise the last £1,560. Please give if you can (link in comments) and your gift will be doubled until 10 December to provide life changing support for women like Aisha ⭐    ‘I was so depressed before after everything that happened to me. Now, I’m completely different. I am doing things all week, including exercise and volunteer work in a charity shop. One day I go to a women's support group, and I do painting every week too,’ says Aisha.        ‘People should support Ella’s, because the situations we are in and have been through are not easy. The house - everything here and how it’s done - helps us. Little things and big things help us, mentally and physically.’         ‘If women don’t get this support, when they’re vulnerable, I think they end up on the streets. This makes me sad and afraid. People should support Ella’s as much as they can.’     #BigGiveChristmasChallenge

‘I’m looking forward to this Christmas at Ella’s, there will be a big party here,’ says Aisha.    The last few years, there were no parties for Aisha, who is a survivor of violence, domestic abuse and modern slavery. There was no celebration, no safety, no freedom. Just fear and pain. This year for the first time in a while, Aisha is feeling joy and excitement again, reminiscent of when she was a child.    ‘Back home when I was a little girl, Eid was one of our big festivals,’ says Aisha. ‘Everyone in the house would be sleeping, but I would wake up and get ready very early, then go back to bed until everyone else woke up!’ she remembers.    Your support this Christmas will go towards our crucial work with women like Aisha, helping them recover, rediscover the joy and fun that life has to offer, and move forward to build futures that are safe and free. Please donate below if you can 💕   We’re nearly 50 per cent towards our match funding target, with donations DOUBLED until 10 Dec, but we only have four more days to get there. Please give if you can. And if you’ve already donated or give regularly to Ella’s, thank you so much  🙏   #ChristmasChallenge #BigGive https://lnkd.in/ddH-55rs

Aisha was paired with an Ella’s support worker when she arrived, who helped her settle in and form a recovery plan. Aisha has been through traumatic experiences that have hurt her in many ways. But even before the abuse, Aisha was disadvantaged, having grown up in a place where women were denied opportunity or choice; so his tailored, holistic support is crucial for Aisha’s future as well as her recovery. Emotional support and encouragement have been key for Aisha, but she is equally thankful that her support worker is encouraging her to build independence. We’re helping Aisha plug into activities to help her recovery, and to build crucial skills and confidence for the future. ‘Ella’s is giving me the confidence to know that, when I do move out and live on my own again, I can do it,’ says Aisha. ‘My idea of womanhood is completely changing at Ella’s; and it should, because women shouldn’t have to depend on men. They should be able to be strong and do things too.’ Please donate to our Christmas Appeal if you can, to empower women like Aisha. Donations are still being DOUBLED at the link in our bio. We are a third of the way to our target. If you’ve donated already, thank you!