A domestic abuse charity supporting women, men and children across Mid Wales has received a £20,000 grant from NatWest to fund its life-saving work in North Powys.
Aiming to reduce the risk of domestic abuse through its specialist support and guidance, Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre has been working with NatWest to offer new opportunities to help build independence among its service users.
The charity was introduced to NatWest by one of the bank’s colleagues, Natalie, who turned to the service after experiencing domestic abuse. Having experienced first-hand how vital the centre is during a time of need, Natalie spoke with her team at NatWest to see how they could help.
Hoping to create a sense of independence for those who use the centre, the charity has also partnered up with NatWest to unlock women’s entrepreneurial spirit by offering free financial capability training. With finances often the biggest blocker for those leaving a domestic abuse situation, financial education and the ability to make earnings through their own business is a stepping stone to freedom from abuse.
Through peer groups, the charity is able to support women starting a small business, offering advice on how to develop their initiative alongside protection from their current situation, with the aim of growing their confidence and achieving financial freedom.
In addition, NatWest is also offering free mentorship from its senior leadership team to accelerate the charity’s work to become more self-sufficient, so they don’t need to solely rely on grant funding and ensure the services reach far and wide across Pan Wales and its rural communities.
Helen Dudley, Company Secretary at Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre, said:
“For the centre, the grant from NatWest and their offer of free support are not just generous contributions — they are lifelines. This funding will enable us to extend our services and reach even more individuals in need, providing them with the critical support and resources to rebuild their lives.
“We have seen huge increases in both women and men using the services recently, highlighting the continued importance of funding from organisations to allow us to provide the services we do. NatWest‘s support of the charity has made a huge difference in the community and it’s incredible to see the impact entrepreneurial encouragement has on the women we are working with.”
Alongside financial support, NatWest recognised the value of their front-line colleagues in being able to spot vulnerable customers who might be experiencing domestic abuse and implemented systems to help and protect customers. Every branch colleague at NatWest is offered domestic abuse training to identify the signs of a customer in trouble and guide them on how to appropriately and discreetly manage the situation to ensure the best outcome for the customer.
Alongside this, NatWest offers safe spaces at every branch, allowing any member of the public, whether a customer or not, to walk into a branch and be given a private room for as long as needed that day. Within the space they are free to use a phone to make private calls and will be offered to speak to trained staff members about their situation.
Natalie Davies, Fulfilment Planning Manager at NatWest, added:
“Having personally experienced the devastating impact of domestic abuse and the vital support Montgomeryshire Family Crisis Centre offers, I cannot express enough how significant NatWest’s grant and continuous support is.
“NatWest’s commitment to this cause demonstrates our dedication to fostering safe and supportive communities, and I am incredibly proud to be part of an organisation that takes such meaningful action. Support is available at NatWest’s safe spaces in branches across the UK, for individuals who are concerned about their safety to access a designated private room and assistance from branch colleagues.”
For further information on the support provided by Montgomeryshire Family Crisis visit here
