Appreciation for The Women's Centre - A Poem from Donna

We often receive feedback from women who have accessed our services telling us about their journey and the impact of the support they received from The Women's Centre. We received this poem from Donna, a courageous and brilliant woman and survivor, about her experience with us.

Your support has been so valuable, I send thanks so sincere

It's helped me to navigate onto pathways more clear

Phases have been tough, picking myself off the floor

At times, dealing with abuse has felt like a chore

Deep content from the past, I’ve been able to share

Met with true understanding and utmost care

Everyone at the Women’s Centre carry out such amazing roles

Helping us to heal, and to achieve new goals

It’s sad to think about how much abuse is around

Causing many to stay silent and hide close to the ground

Emotions affect us, knowing abuse was not our choice

I’m testimony to the fact that the mute can find their voice

I reach out to survivors, with messages of hope

As coping alone is a slippery slope

Abusers won’t hold us back, together we will thrive

We’ll stand strong together, with no rights deprived

It's ok to curse our abusers, they’re such evil scum

As survivors, we have a future, with better times to come.

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A message from Donna:

“Thank you once again to all involved and connected to the Women’s Centre. I have massively appreciated the support offered over the years, including the valuable helpline, responses from emails/ messages, face to face sessions and the group workshops.

I really used to struggle to even pick up the phone or ask for any help at all years ago.

Nowadays, it can still be hard to reach out, but finally, with the input from support over the years, I am finally more able and capable to speak up, create writing/ poems (that I hope may be of benefit toothers one day) and feel stronger as a person.
Abuse can affect so many aspects of our lives for many years, causing a silence in many.

Although it’s taken years, I’m slowly progressing up that ‘healing ladder’ and will always be an advocate to others saying that “Breaking the silence caused as a result of abuse, and asking for support is a key step in being able to start the healing journey'.”

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