Survivors of D&R CIC was founded in early 2024 with a mission to offer support and care to individuals and their families who have experience domestic abuse or sexual assault. Recently joining easyfundraising to be able to further their services, we spoke to founder Janet, to learn more about this important cause.
Tell us about Survivors of D&R
I became self-employed in 2017, and in 2024, I founded Survivors Of D & R CIC to formalise my efforts in supporting survivors. Our mission is to empower survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse by providing comprehensive support, resources, and advocacy to help them heal and reclaim their lives. We envision a world where all individuals can live free from violence and abuse, supported by a
community that believes in the strength and resilience of survivors.
We offer a range of services aimed at supporting survivors, including:
- Emergency Shelter: Safe accommodations for individuals and families fleeing abusive situations.
- Counselling Services: Access to trauma-informed therapy and support groups to aid in
emotional healing.
- Legal Assistance: Help navigating the legal system, including obtaining restraining orders and
legal representation.
- Advocacy and Education: Community outreach programs to raise awareness about domestic
violence and sexual abuse, and to educate individuals about prevention and available resources.
- Basic Needs Support: Providing essential resources such as food, clothing, and hygiene
products to survivors in need.
- Hotline/helplines provide immediate support for those in need.
We serve individuals and families affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse, regardless of
age, gender, or background. Our services are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all
survivors in our community.
We have two locations, one in the West Midlands located in Walsall and on in London. We serve the surrounding areas, aiming to reach as many survivors as possible within our community.
What do you need funding for?
There are a number of areas where funding can make a significant impact, all of the services listed above wouldn’t be possible without financial support. Particularly the emergency shelters and our counselling services as well as the operational costs of our support lines which are there 24 hours a day. We are striving to create an even more robust support system for survivors and this requires growing our team, training more of our staff and volunteers to make a real difference to those in need.
Why did you join easyfundraising?
Easyfundraising provides a really simple method of fundraising for our staff / volunteers and communities. Simply doing their everyday shopping they could raise funds for us. With the cost of living now, it can be hard for people to give, so signing up to a method of free fund generation was a no brainer!
What is your fundraising target over the next 12 months?
We don’t have a specific target set, but the costs of what we need to raise in order to grow our services and truly deliver our vision is in the region of £250,000. Allocation would be as follows:
Counselling and Mental Health Services (£100,000): This would fund individual and group
therapy sessions for survivors, providing them with essential psychological support to aid in their
healing process. It may also cover specialised training for counselors in trauma-informed care.
Emergency Shelter and Housing Support (£75,000): These funds could help maintain and
operate emergency shelters, providing safe spaces for survivors fleeing abusive situations. This
allocation may also assist with transitional housing programs that help survivors secure long-term
housing solutions.
Legal Assistance and Advocacy Programs (£40,000): Funding could be directed towards
providing legal aid to survivors seeking justice, including representation in court, assistance with
restraining orders, or navigating the legal system. Additionally, this could support advocacy
programs that educate survivors about their rights and available resources.
Education and Awareness Campaigns (£20,000): Allocating funds for community outreach
and educational programs can help raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault,
promote prevention efforts, and encourage survivors to seek help. This can include workshops,
seminars, and the distribution of informational materials.
Support Services and Resources (£15,000): This could fund hotlines, support groups, and
resource distribution (e.g., hygiene kits, emergency funds, or transportation assistance) to help
survivors meet immediate needs.
What are the top 3 reasons a supporter should sign up to support your cause?
- To help create a safe space of support and care for survivors of domestic abuse or sexual assault.
- To raise awareness of the impact of such actions and educate others in how to spot the signs and help.
- To build a stronger community, fostering a culture of compassion, understanding and solidarity.
What do you like best about the easyfundraising platform so far?
The support resources are fantastic! It’s so easy to share our cause link with others and get them behind us. I also find the platform so easy to use – one extra click when you shop and you are raising on any device. To be able to manage our progress so simply and not have any intensive admin to do is also such a help as a young charity.
Get behind Survivors of D&R
Though in its infancy, this charity is providing such an important service to those affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse. With ambitious plans, they need as much support as possible.
To support Survivors of D&R with every shop, sign up to support them here.
To access their services or find out more, visit their website.
To register your own cause with easyfundraising, click here.