A message from our director Della: We’re changing our drop-in service to make it better for the women we support

Our drop-in service has always been at the heart of everything The New Futures Project stands for.

Its purpose is simple – it gives women a safe and welcoming place to sidestep, for a while at least, the harshness of their lives.

They come here to eat, get a shower, do their laundry and choose a change of clothes – as well as picking up other daily essentials to take away with them, such as food, condoms, toiletries and personal hygiene items.

Crucially, the time they spend here helps them build bonds with us, meaning we can work out together what we need to do to support them.

A few weeks ago we decided it could do with a spruce-up – the photograph above is a little peek at how it is shaping up – and the introduction of new structured activities.

Here, our director Della Kagure Brown sets out how the service is changing and what it will mean for the women we support. 

Della writes: “The work is progressing nicely and today we can show you a sneaky preview of what it may look like when it is complete.

“The work has taken longer than we expected as it has included repairing the roof as well as redecorating and refurnishing. We are hoping to open again in a few weeks, hopefully before the weather gets too cold and wet.

“We intend to run things a little differently in the future. So, as well as hot food and drinks our new drop-in will also provide our clients with daily activities such as creative writing classes, arts and crafts, yoga and meditation classes. 

“The sessions will be open to all women who access the project in crisis and we are all looking forward to offering them a warm welcome.

“The drop-in has always been the heart of the project and it was always our intention to continue the service. 

“We are excited to be offering new activities and hope our clients enjoy them. We are trying to get everything in place as quickly as possible before the winter sets in. 

“For over twenty-five years this project has been a safe and warm space for women to access hot food and drinks, warm clothing, showers and care and support and we intend it to continue for many years to come.”

Until the new drop-in reopens women in crisis can continue to attend the project to receive one-to-one support and counselling as usual.

The New Futures Project offers a comprehensive welfare and counselling service for women and young people dealing with sexual abuse or exploitation, domestic violence, trafficking, poverty and debt, substance use or mental ill-health.

Call us on 0116 251 0803 or send us a message at: info@new-futures.org.uk

You can find us at 71 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0PE.

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