International Women’s Day isn’t just a date on the calendar – it’s a day that shines a spotlight on the strength, resilience, and contributions of women around the world. At St Giles, we provide holistic support for women and girls facing some of life’s toughest challenges.
We understand that every woman’s journey is unique, especially those who have faced some of the most daunting obstacles. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Our holistic approach brings lived experience to help clients by building trust and understanding, making support more relatable and impactful. This model guides individuals out of the dark and onto a life with new possibilities.
We help women such as Stacey, who turned to St Giles for help during a particularly dark period in her life, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. She had a newborn son, an abusive partner who struggled with mental health issues and addiction, and had lost her job in the hospitality industry. St Giles played a pivotal role in her transformation by introducing her to the Learning to Advise program, where she pursued an NVQ Level 3 in Advice and Guidance. Through their support, she transitioned from a tumultuous life to one of stability, gaining the insight and confidence to help others through her own lived experience. Stacey now works in Y Pantri, using her lived experience to support other women facing similar challenges.
“Lived experience bridges a gap that no formal qualification can. It turns professionals into people, services into safe spaces, and moments of despair into turning points. And it’s not just about the people we help—it’s about us, too. Every time I see someone take control of their own life; it reminds me why I do this work. It reminds me that no matter how broken someone feels, there is always a way forward.”
Over the years, our tailored services have helped thousands of women and girls around England and Wales to break the cycle of disadvantage, addressing poverty, exploitation, and involvement in the criminal justice system. We empower women to build brighter futures by tackling these root causes in our projects. These help with any issue holding women back – from housing, debts, exploitation and employment.
Beyond today, let’s take action, support one another, and continue pushing forward until every woman could live a life filled with possibilities.
At St Giles, our women’s and girls’ services are built on the power of shared experience. Our incredible team members often have similar life experiences to the women and girls we support, creating authentic connections and demonstrating that positive change is possible, regardless of background or past challenges. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the strength and resilience of women and girls everywhere and reaffirm our commitment to empowering them to build a brighter future.
– Nicky Park, Director of Criminal Justice & Women’s Services