I really like Mondays now and it’s all down to New Futures – one of our counselling clients shares her story

The most compelling stories we publish on our website tend to be our ‘first person’ pieces – that is, those written by the remarkable women and young people we support or our wonderful staff, volunteers or supporters.

Here, Kay – not her real name – talks about the breakthroughs she has been able to make in her life after she was referred to us for counselling.

Interestingly, her story touches on how we were able to help her negotiate her way through a tough financial predicament she found herself in thanks to the actions of an abusive man.

I am in my early-50s now and spent most of my adult life supporting others, she writes.

Working for charitable organisations in Leicester, I have first-hand experience of the struggles the women who access The New Futures Project face.

Despite this, I had not heard of the project until I was referred to their counselling service – and how fortunate I am to have their support.

Like many who choose this line of work, I not only have work experience but also lived, life experience.

It’s a sad story but one that I am being supported with.

Each Monday I meet with my counsellor.

I am not always in the best place at the time, but after each session I feel empowered and ready to face the rest of the week. 

I really look forward to Mondays.

After my session I meet with my support worker.

Depending on what life has thrown at me at one time, I know that I will be supported to deal with it whatever it may be and how daunting it may seem.

I had a particularly bad summer in 2023. 

I was spiked, not once but consistently over several weeks, by a man I had struck up a new relationship with.

In just under six weeks, he managed to wipe me out financially and take several loans out in my name.

I had a nervous breakdown and was detained in hospital for a few weeks.

During this period, I had the support of the drop-in centre manager who messaged me to reassure me the project would be here for me to support me when I returned home.

They did not let me down. 

Lisa (Project Manager) and my then support worker (Oana) supported me in communicating with creditors and gave me the confidence to sometimes speak to them directly.

Lisa noticed on some paperwork that the creditors had failed to recognise that I was vulnerable at this time and had not been safeguarded by the companies dishing out the loans.

She spoke to the fraud investigation team and the loans were written off.

It could have been so different, and I am so very grateful to the project for their support.

It has taken some months to process what happened to me during the summer, but I continue to attend my counselling sessions on Mondays and spend more time at the project where I enjoy weekly activities and chatting to the women who access the service.

I have a latest support worker now (Marylyn) who quite quickly picked up on my need for healthy boundaries.

We have a session booked to look at working towards this.

Often, I am asked to feedback on my involvement with my counsellor or support workers.

I never have anything less than praise to report.

Della (Director of The New Futures Project) must be proud of her team.

I have worked in many organisations, but never have I witnessed such dedication, hard work and genuine love for what they do.

Long may it continue because for once in my life I really like Mondays.

New Futures was set up more than 20 years ago to support women involved in sex work.

However, we have evolved into 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.

We publish a monthly newsletter to tell the stories of the women we support and to round up all the things we’ve been doing.

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