You Know When a Conversation Starts With: “You Can Say No If You Want To, But I Think You’d Be Really Good…” by Angela Brett

Who are The Magdalene Group?

TMG are a grassroots charity in Norfolk that supports women and girls affected by violence, coercion, trafficking and abuse. They operate almost invisibly unless you’ve been personally touched by their efforts, you may not know they exist.
But their mission is vital, to support the agenda of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
• Between 2018 and 2023, there was a 37% increase in crimes related to VAWG in the UK.
• Over 100 women in the UK are killed by men annually.
• Around the world, every 11 minutes, a woman or girl is killed in her own home.
This is not right!

…and so, I said yes.

Awareness was the true priority.

With a mix of determination and apprehension, I dove headfirst into planning the Charity Ball. I brought my commercial mindset and a hefty dose of enthusiasm, thinking I had a handle on what needed to be done. But my initial assumption, that raising funds was the primary goal, was quickly reframed.
Over coffee, with the wonderful Suzi Heybourne , the CEO, she clearly outlined to me that, importantly, awareness was what they really wanted. People need to see, hear, and understand that VAWG is rooted in harmful masculine norms. Starting with men, we must address the attitudes and behaviours that contribute to a fear of violence for women in their day-to-day lives.

“We are going to plan a NightTime Strut!”

Suzi determined that importantly, walking the streets at night is something (I can assure you) EVERY woman has feared, alone, or otherwise. Unfortunately, (sorry to all the nice guys out there, it makes us feel flippin' uneasy...)
The Midnight Strut was held on 19th June 2024, where 100 women walked the streets of Norwich, followed by a vigil, during which Maya Angelou's poem 'Still I Rise' was read. (Reflecting a similar number of women killed by violence by men in the past 12 months). Listen here. It was emotional. But it did its job - we all FELT the fear.

The Pearly Ball.

In October, along with the help of my co-planning buddy, Lauren Farley , The Pearly Ball was held at The Assembly House. It was a wonderful black tie celebration event, a huge success, and a chance for the staff working hard day-to-day to enjoy a night of fun. We raised over £10,000, a figure they were not expecting to reach. This was achieved through the generosity of kind people and their businesses who were willing to donate generously, either as donations or as auction prizes. To begin with, the “ask” seemed blunt, but trust me, people WANT to help. Don’t hold back; if people want to, they will.

A Rollercoaster of Emotions.

Working with a charity is a layered experience. It begins with a deep desire to help, to give back. Then comes the realisation of what it is you are actually supporting, how tough the work really is. You start to wonder, how do the people on the frontline deal with these issues day in and day out?
I still can’t answer that question. What I do know is that the professional team of practitioners are nothing short of saints. They’re from another planet, they deserve to sleep on silk sheets and dine on caviar, but instead, they focus on giving back. Full stop. Ditto for all support workers.
That’s why I was determined to pour as much time and energy as possible into helping this charity be seen.

Lessons Learned.

Awareness Matters More Than Anything. While raising funds is crucial, the first step is often simply making people aware of the issue and the organisation tackling it.

It’s Tough, But Worth It. The emotional weight of working with a charity can be heavy. But seeing the impact makes it worth every ounce of effort. I was (lucky) enough to have support from my employer to help with a few extra hours my day needed to make this work.

Collaboration Is Key. No one can do this alone. It takes (gentle) persuasion and a supportive network of wonderful friends and colleagues to bring about change.

What's next?...

Marking this milestone was only the beginning, for me. This experience opened my eyes to the challenges (small) charities face, to be seen.
To anyone considering getting involved or working with a charity, my advice is this: do it. Think about your attitude, your network and your skills, just a few hours a month can make a difference. But it won’t be easy.
If you’re thinking about supporting a new charity this year, consider the Magdalene Group.
… The mission is to change the narrative. 💜 let’s stand together to stop VAWG💜
Thank You.
Ax