The Relationships Centre

Warrington Guardian speaks to a woman who is rebuilding her life after breaking free from an abusive relationship.

26th Nov 2009

The 34-year old mum-of-three, from Cinnamon Brow, says her torment began at the age of 16 when she fell for her older boyfriend.

She said: "He had been drinking and threw me on to a grass verge. He was verbally abusive. He was crying and said it wouldn't happen again."

That was the start of the bullying, which would see her beaten unconscious and attacked in front of her children. It resulted in her giving evidence against him in Warrington Magistrates' Court before he was handed a custodial sentence earlier this year.

She said: "I honestly believed it wouldn't happen again, I believed I would change him. "I gave up the family business because he said I was bad at my job. My confidence was low and I wouldn't question what he said."

She said she tried to get him help to deal with his alcohol problem but nothing worked. "It was a case of trying to survive to be honest. He would say 'I would be dead without you', it was emotional blackmail.

"I felt deflated, absolutely numb after each beating. I used to wake up dreading what was going to happen." One of her worst memories was last Christmas when he banged her face against the mantlepiece and told one of their children to mop up the blood. She was admitted to hospital after the wound became infected and told she could have gone blind or even died if it had been left untreated.

On a family holiday she was knocked unconscious and punched so badly one side of her face was distorted. She told medics she had been kicked accidentally in the swimming pool.

In court this year she says she felt 'sickened' at the thought of giving evidence and came close to refusing. She said the police had been called many times over the past six years but she was too scared to press charges.

The final straw was when she was unable to attend an event that was important to one of her sons because she had been attacked. She said: "I feel stupid for putting up with it for that length of time. My life is beginning again. I have started a job and nobody is walking on eggshells now."

"I am working out now why he did it. He wanted utter control. He had his insecurities and problems."

She advised any women or men in her situation to get help. She admits that contacting the police can sometimes be daunting so advises getting in touch with The Relationships Centre.

"The name of the charity says it all. They are understanding, I didn't know whether I was coming or going before them," she said.

Co-founder of The Relationships Centre wins Morgan Foundation's Social Entrepeneur Award

24th Nov 2009

The winners of the 2009 Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards were announced on the 19th November 2009 in a gala awards ceremony at Carden Park Hotel, Chester. The winners and runners up in the six categories won cash prizes plus a package of valuable professional services, including free banking advice from the main sponsor Barclays Commercial Bank.

Now in their third year, these Awards are designed to encourage a whole new generation of entrepreneurial role models and were open to charities, social enterprises, businesses and entrepreneurs from Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, North Wales and the Wolverhampton area.

We are extremely proud to announce that the top award for the Best Individual Entrepreneur Working in a Charity or Social Enterprise went to our very own Alison McCausland, co-founder of The Relationships Centre. The judges said that they thought that Alison's wide ranging experience, which she brings to bear in an impressive and practical way, helps to improve the living conditions of many people.

Our congratulations and our thanks go to Alison personally, from everyone connected with The Relationships Centre. The cash proze will be used to develop a life skills academy for the Young people of Warrington.

Warrington is streets ahead in protecting the young and vulnerable say local charity.

23rd Nov 2009

The Relationships Centre believes that Warrington are streets ahead as an authority, in protecting the most vulnerable individuals, following the outcome of a damming Ofsted report which revealed the council was failing young people.

Lucy Hindmarch, Acting Director of The Relationships Centre, praised the partnership between agencies and said the inspection highlighted good examples of best practice services for children and how they work together.

She said: "There is best practice in the town but unfortunately the positive examples have been missed following the publication of the report."

Lucy said the charity takes many referrals from Warrington Borough Council's social workers for the Talk Don't Walk initiative, which provides counselling and family mediation to children who run away.

She said: "We really couldn't deliver the service without the support of the social workers, the police and many other agencies -  it is multi-disciplanary.

"Warrington is streets ahead as an authority in that area".

Lucy, who is also chair of the Children's Voluntary Sector Forum, said the group will continue working hard to support the council.

Alison McCausland, co-founder of the charity, which is the Warrington Guardian's charity of the year, said she had worked with the council for the past 30 years. She said: "Those who are doing a good job get tarnished with the same brush"

Alison, a former police officer, said a lot of people who she has worked with, have received a brilliant service from workers at the council.

She said: "It is very easy to jump on the bandwagon when they do wrong but when they do right they don't get praised.

"The world would be a lot poorer if we didn't have social care. It is a job for dedicated people, they work into their own time."

The Peacock Project, a multi-agency initiative to help care leavers learn new skills and seek employment saw a young person who was leaving care secure employment and do exeptionally well, said Alison.

Taking to the fairways for a good cause!

5th Nov 2009

Golfers teed off with a different sort of drive  on the morning of the 9th October- a charity one!

Almost 96 golfers took to the fairways at Lymm Golf Club to raise money for The Relationships Centre. Tailormade, a financial services company based on Arnold Street, Warrington town centre, hosts a charity golf day each year and this month's event raised £2,500 for the charity.

The day was organised by Big Red Events, a Warrington-based company which specialises in golf and sporting days. Tailormade's director Robert Shaw said he was delighted the day was such a success.

"We had 24 teams playing," he said. "I heard about The Relationships Centre through a business associate who had done work with them so I knew I wanted to support a local charity."

"The day on October 9th has already raised £2,500 but with money still coming in it could rise to £3,000."

Lucy Hindmarch, acting director of the Gateway based charity, said: "We were delighted to be chosen as its charity of the year as we feel it demonstrates the support that the private sector can offer charities in Warrington.

"The issues our charity tackles affects everyone as we all have relationships and Tailormade have recognised this."

Call The Relationships Centre on 01925246910 for more information about it's work.