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About Us

 

Sutton Women's Centre

Sutton Women's Centre is working hard to build a community where every woman has achieved her full potential.

Established for more than 30 years, we work with women across the London Borough of Sutton with a focus on supporting those who are surviving domestic abuse.

We offer a range of services including:

  • counselling
  • classes and courses including art therapy, exercise and mindfulness
  • regular meet-up sessions
  • computer literacy and job skills
  • The Freedom Programme
  • Ask Me Domestic Abuse Ambassador training
 
 

Our Mission

To provide a safe, women only space where women can access specialist support, advice, information and education to help them achieve their potential; develop their skills; and live their lives free from domestic abuse.
 
 

What we achieve

We monitor and evaluate all our work to ensure our work with women: 
- improves their life chances
- improves their health and wellbeing
- increases their basic skills
- reduces their isolation
 

Our Values

Our core values underpin everything we do – the way we work, how we deliver our services, how we work with each other and how we engage with our clients.  These are:
- Respect
- Inclusion
- Support
- Empowerment
 

Our aims and objectives

- To support and empower women to increase their confidence and self-esteem, to enable them to make positive life decisions for themselves and their children
- To provide advice to local women to ensure that they are able to access appropriate services, support and increase communication between women
- To provide inclusive educational and learning opportunities to improve the life chances of local women and their children, increase their career related skills and enable women to develop the tools they need to be active citizens
- To provide information to women that respects their individual needs and improves their life chances, reduces isolation and increases communication between women
- To champion the needs of local women to local partners and collaborate to find solutions
 

Our Funders

We are funded by:
- Grants / contracts from local and national organisations
- Donations from the public
- Our own fundraising efforts including tombola's, raffles and stalls at local fairs
 

Our Governance

Sutton Women’s Centre is managed by a committee of Trustees.  We are small but we have robust policies in place to ensure we :
- Have the correct governance practices in place
- Manage our finances effectively
- Mange risks appropriately
- Comply with our legal responsibilities
In 2018 we achieved the PQASSO level one  standard that enables organisations to self-assess against key criteria to ensure resilience in all areas of the organisations operations.
Our policies can be found here and our annual report can be found on the Charities Commission website here.
 

Our History

In 1982 a group of local women started meeting at Roundshaw Centre, Wallington and formed a committee with the aim of identifying and progressing the needs of local women. 
In December 1983, the Greater London Council awarded a grant to the committee towards the creation of a women’s centre.  We then registered as a charity. 
After a long search for a suitable property contracts were exchanged on a house at No3 Palmerston Road, Sutton and on 1st May 1985 Sutton Women’s Centre opened its doors for the first time.
Over the years many thousands of women have come through our front door, some as service users, some as management committee members, some as staff, and many as volunteers.  It is the experience and commitment of these women who have made us the successful organisation we are today.
We go from strength to strength and extend our thanks to all the women that continue to give us their support, their time, and encouragement.

Meet The Team

Liz McGarry

Centre Manager
Liz is our Centre Manager and has been with us for 13 years. She and helped the Women's Centre grow to become the organisation it is today. She manages the day to day running of the Centre, manages our finances, secures funding for our various projects and offers a warm welcome to all women who access our services. Her experience and knowledge of domestic abuse enables us to offer the best possible service to local women who have experienced domestic abuse.
“It’s a very special place, the welcoming atmosphere and the genuine concern for people”
 

Heather Smiles

Administrator
Heather is an experienced office manager and leads on our service monitoring and evaluation.  She is also a qualified counsellor (MBACP), specialising in working with women who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse.
 

Pauline Hennessey

Counselling and Domestic Abuse Services Manager
Pauline is a highly qualified (MBACP – Gov Registered) and experience counsellor, specialising in Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence. She is a qualified Freedom Programme Facilitator. Having previously experienced abuse herself, she is passionate to free and empower women to find their voice.
Pauline’s mantra is “Break the Silence” which she feels is the main reason Domestic Abuse flourishes.
 

Kerry Flynn

 

Kerry leads the Freedom Programme at Sutton Women's Centre. She is a qualified IDVA and is currently studying to become a qualified counsellor.

Having lived experience of domestic abuse, Kerry is passionate about supporting women to empower them.

“We use the same Créche Workers for the Freedom Programme and the monthly support group which provides continuity for the children and a sense of safety for the mums”.

Trustees 

Our Trustees:

Emma Matthews (Chair)
Marcia Turner (Vice Chair)
Amoke Stehfest (Treasurer)
Vanessa Hill (Secretary)
Adenike Fadero
Laura Noakes

Grace Oggudah

Charlene Williams

Karlene White

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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