WAITS Women Acting in Todays Society

WAITS Women Acting in Todays Society Creating a future where all women are empowered to make positive change. Our vision is to create a future where all women are empowered to make positive change.

WAITS (Women Acting in Today’s Society) is a registered charity (No. 1135026) established in 1993. Our mission is to enable diverse women within the West Midlands to develop themselves and others. We currently deliver 2 main areas of work to them:

1) Empowering Women (Community Organising) - building the leadership skills of local women to engage more effectively with other women, groups, network

s, government and policy makers.

2) Women’s Support and Development Services – supporting women affected by domestic abuse, female offenders, in particular BAME and Chinese women, through advocacy, counselling, consultations and accommodation.

Have you ever wondered what life is really like for the women who turn to WAITS for support?Today, we want to share Yuk’...
17/06/2026

Have you ever wondered what life is really like for the women who turn to WAITS for support?

Today, we want to share Yuk’s story (not her real name)—a story of resilience, survival, and hope. Please understand that the following story comes with a trigger warning.

When Yuk came to WAITS in 2024, she had endured years of devastating abuse. From coercive control and emotional harm to sexual and financial abuse, her journey had been incredibly difficult.

Even after leaving the relationship, the challenges didn’t end. She was left with significant debt, caring for four children—including one with complex needs—while navigating the trauma of abuse, depression, and ongoing legal battles completely on her own.

At one point, Yuk was preparing court documents late at night, juggling childcare, emotional strain, and uncertainty—all while feeling unheard during proceedings.

💜 But she wasn’t alone anymore.
WAITS stood beside Yuk every step of the way:
✅ Providing regular counselling to support her emotional recovery
✅ Securing a £4,000 grant to help with essential living costs
✅ Offering court support to ensure her safety and voice were protected
✅ Connecting her with specialist debt advice to help rebuild her future

Yuk’s story is just one of many.Every day, women like Yuk are finding strength, rebuilding their lives, and moving forward—with the right support behind them.

✨ With your help, we can continue to be there for more women who need us.





Is it important to consider getting therapy after experiencing domestic abuse?Getting therapy after experiencing domesti...
15/06/2026

Is it important to consider getting therapy after experiencing domestic abuse?

Getting therapy after experiencing domestic abuse is incredibly important because what happened in that terrible relationship often doesn’t stay in the past; it can leave emotional, physical and mental scars that stay with you long after the relationship ends.

Here are a few very specific reasons why getting therapy matters:
1. Receiving validation and empathy: Survivors often believe that they deserve the abuse they experienced due to the abusers’ manipulation and criticism. Empathetic and non-judgemental professional therapists assist you in questioning this in a safe space so that you can move forward.
2. Minimising mental health effects: Survivors usually suffer from PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression and various other mental health issues. Therapy can help you slowly heal from this.
3. Regaining self-worth and confidence: Abusers usually subject victims to manipulation and unhealthy control, which warps how you see yourself and destroys your self-esteem. Therapy helps you regain your confidence and sense of self-worth.
4. Setting the ground for safe relationships in the future: Therapy helps you understand red flags, personal boundaries and cultivate trust with the right people in your romantic relationships. Understanding these things is invaluable for forming healthy relationships in the future.

In a nutshell, therapy helps you process your experiences and emotions in a healthy way so that the abusive relationship does not have to rule over your present and future. If you have any questions or concerns about therapy, WAITS is happy to help!




Have you ever thought about how you can share your skills with WAITS and make a real difference in the lives of women wh...
12/06/2026

Have you ever thought about how you can share your skills with WAITS and make a real difference in the lives of women who are survivors of domestic abuse?

Here are six volunteer roles and their descriptions:
1. Trustees: Trustees volunteer to govern WAITS. They make sure we are meeting all our contracts and are supporting the specific women that WAITS promised to support.
2. Ambassadors: Ambassadors volunteer to organise individual fundraising events where they raise money and donate it to WAITS.
3. Befrienders: Befrienders volunteer to be listening ears to women who have escaped domestic abuse.
4. Qualified Counsellors: Counsellors meet survivors in one-to-one meetings and give these women space to talk about their domestic abuse experiences so that they can overcome trauma. Counsellors are volunteers on placements from their respective universities.
5. Social Media Managers: Social media managers volunteer to create content for WAITS’ various social media accounts and bi-monthly newsletter.
6. Company donors: Company donors also volunteer to host individual fundraising events and collect items that domestic abuse survivors desperately need.

If you are interested in supporting us, please email us the role that you are interested in and your CV to [email protected]. WAITS relies heavily on our volunteers, so please get involved!




Ever wonder what trauma bonding is, and why it is so important to know what its seven stages are?Trauma bonding is a ver...
10/06/2026

Ever wonder what trauma bonding is, and why it is so important to know what its seven stages are?

Trauma bonding is a very strong emotional attachment that forms between women and abusers who harm, abuse or mistreat them while also showering them with attention and affection in between the abuse.

There are seven stages:
1. Love bombing: The abuser starts showering the victim with attention, flattery, affection, and praise. The abuser makes the woman feel special so that she decides to lower her guard.
2. Trust and dependency: Emotional dependency flourishes, trust grows, and the relationship plays a central role in the victim’s life. The abuser tries to isolate the victim from their support networks so that the victim is reliant on them.
3. Criticism and devaluation: After making sure that the victim is dependent on them, the abuser tears the victim down through criticism, nitpicking, jealousy and kinds of harmful behaviour.
4. Manipulation and gaslighting: The abuser gaslights and manipulates the victim into doubting themselves.
5. Resignation and submission: The victim tiredly submits to the abuser. She tries to avoid both conflict and upsetting the abuser to keep the relationship steady.
6. Loss of self: The victim of a trauma bond loses their sense of self, confidence, and boundaries because of what their abuser is doing to them.
7. Emotional addiction: Since the abuser showers the victim with both affection and abuse, the victim becomes addicted to the affection and will do anything to receive that affection again.

You need to understand these stages because it makes it easier to recognise manipulation in a relationship. If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma bonding, WAITS is always here to help! Please visit www.waitsaction.org.





05/06/2026

Ever wondered how much WAITS has changed since it was first founded?

Marcia Lewinson (CEO of WAITS) comes forward to explain WAITS’ beginnings and how it has changed over time in this reel.

WAITS was originally a campaigning group that helped women set up community-based groups and overcome challenges. In 1997, WAITS moved into supporting domestic abuse victims who were living primarily in the community. Since then, we have continued to support domestic abuse victims. WAITS also impacted women’s lives by helping influence domestic abuse policy since the beginning up until now.

Fast forward to 2012 and beyond, WAITS already had our community-based domestic abuse services and our community organising arm, so we opened our first refuge. The structure of WAITS has also changed gradually from mainly a community organising charity at the beginning to include support workers, refuge workers, counsellors and workshop facilitators now.

Marcia said that she would like to see WAITS become more sustainable and continue to provide emergency accommodation for women in the future. WAITS is working on a new project that focuses on providing affordable housing for women so that when they are fleeing domestic abuse, they don’t have to suffer poverty.

Please check out the reel we have posted if you are interested!





Having support networks in place is incredibly important for women who are experiencing domestic abuse. Support network...
03/06/2026

Having support networks in place is incredibly important for women who are experiencing domestic abuse. Support networks can include friends, family members, work buddies, neighbours, the local community, and professionals.

Here are the ways that support networks can help:
Friends and Family:
1. Listen without judgement: Women who are victims of abuse are usually afraid of being scorned or disbelieved. Listening patiently and being non-accusatory can make a huge difference.
2. Reduce isolation: Abusers usually try to separate people from their support networks. Friends and family can stay in touch with calls and visits while also offering support even if the woman chooses to maintain the relationship.
3. Help with safety planning: Friends and family can help with safety planning while also providing transportation and other assistance if the victim decides to leave the abuser.
Community :
1. Community organisations: Local charities, healthcare providers, and community centres can help with housing, childcare, and financial advice.
2. Workplaces and Schools: Employers and schools can help by offering flexible arrangements for people who are experiencing abuse. They can also point victims of domestic abuse towards specialist services.
3. Professional Support: In the UK, specialist services can help with safety planning, legal information, and emergency aid. Organisations such as WAITS, Refuge, and Women’s Aid can offer help. Reach us at www.waitsaction.org

Don’t underestimate the value of having support networks. If you are being abused or know someone who is undergoing abuse, WAITS will be happy to help.




Interested in helping out your fellow women who are domestic abuse survivors?One of our WAITS ambassadors cyclist, Byron...
01/06/2026

Interested in helping out your fellow women who are domestic abuse survivors?

One of our WAITS ambassadors cyclist, Byron Batton, is taking on three cycling challenges to raise money for WAITS.

The cycling challenges include:
🚴 Tour de Northamptonshire – 60 miles
🚴 Wolverhampton to Aberdovey – 104 miles
🚴 London to Brighton – September - 55 miles

According to Bryon Batton, “These rides are part of a much bigger personal journey over the last two years — combining my love of cycling with raising awareness and support for causes close to my heart. This year’s fundraising is especially meaningful to me. It continues a journey inspired by my late mother, whose passion was always centered around supporting women in business, education, independence, and social development. Her belief was simple but powerful: when women are empowered to make their own decisions, communities grow stronger.”

Over the last couple of years, Bryon Bates has helped raise more than £2,500 for WAITS domestic abuse victims and is pushing himself to help WAITS even more.
If you are interested in supporting both WAITS and Bryon Bates, please donate at the secure JustGiving link below. No amount is too small.

Please donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/br-X3YYQBY23RYR-the-tour-de-northamptonshire-cyclosportive?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=EM




Good day, everyone!This is Marcia, the CEO of WAITS, speaking.On the 22nd of May to the 24th of May (last Friday-Sunday)...
29/05/2026

Good day, everyone!

This is Marcia, the CEO of WAITS, speaking.

On the 22nd of May to the 24th of May (last Friday-Sunday), WAITS partnered with OMAZING YOU to hold our second annual Women’s Wellbeing Retreat at the peaceful Forest of Arden Hotel and Spa! This rejuvenating experience – which was strategically designed for women who are ready to step away from pressure and prioritise their wellbeing – was hosted by Dr Obioma Martin, who is a faith-based empowerment leader and coach, educator, business strategist, CEO, as well as a 7X best-selling author.

It was an utterly amazing and transformational experience strongly anchored in Dr Martin’s iconic B.R.E.A.T.H.E framework. The retreat activities included everything from morning and dancing movement sessions, relaxing spa and sensory rest experiences, five different workshops ranging from cultivating sacred rest: releasing & receiving to the power of pause: sustaining sacred rest beyond the retreat, as well as a formal dinner & celebration book launch.

While the entire retreat was full of meaningful, supportive and touching sisterly moments with the other attendees (including them helping me reverse negative messaging that I received in childhood), I have to say that my favourite was the book launch on Saturday night where we celebrated the experiences of seven survivors of WAITS – including me – who chose to write our stories in B.R.E.A.T.H.E. Again Vol III. Four of the writers who attended the retreat last year read their stories out loud, and it was so touching that it made me cry thinking about how WAITS has changed all of our lives.

When the retreat finally finished on Monday, I Ieft feeling refreshed and rejuvenated; however, most importantly, I did as Dr Martin suggested: “to leave with one practical, doable, sustainable plan so that the woman who walks out of the Forest of Arden is the same woman who shows up on Monday morning – only freer.”

Exciting news: WAITS Annual Fundraising & Award Evening! Tickets now on sale!!!Join us for a magical night themed "A tou...
29/05/2026

Exciting news: WAITS Annual Fundraising & Award Evening! Tickets now on sale!!!

Join us for a magical night themed "A touch of Pink, join us in our Pink Carpet" filled with fun, style, and elegance while fundraising for a great cause! Hosted by John Smith (Upfront Comedy Club) with music by TC Connection and sponsored by Park Regis it will be an unforgettable evening!

Here are the details:
Date: 7th November from 6 pm to late
Venue: Sky Gallery, Park Regis Hotel, 160 Broad St., Birmingham B15 1DT
Ticket Prices: Early bird individual: £60, Normal ticket: £65, Table of 10 early bird: £585
Table of 10 normal ticket: £650
Dress code: Formal with a touch of pink

If you are interested in buying tickets, please visit: HTTP://BUYTICKETS.AT/WAITS/219520

All proceeds will go to providing welcome packs for women who face homelessness, children’s Christmas presents, counselling and workshops for women experiencing domestic abuse as well as funding for WAITS refuge services. Please come and support us!

Why is it important for domestic abuse victims to reach out for help?Getting help when you are experiencing or have expe...
27/05/2026

Why is it important for domestic abuse victims to reach out for help?

Getting help when you are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse is incredibly important because getting support can increase chances of safety, mental and physical health, legal protection, and future stability.

Here are some reasons why you should reach out:
Safety: If you have nowhere to turn, support services can help you with safety plans, housing, or reaching someone who can help with protection orders or emergency resources.
Mental and physical health: Abuse impacts physical and mental health in ways that include anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and injuries.
Isolation: Domestic abuse victims are often isolated from family and friends by their abusers. Talking to someone can help greatly.
Children: Children can get caught up in domestic abuse and can suffer from emotional and developmental problems.
Practical matters: Specialist organisations can help a great deal with accommodations, financial problems, legal aid, and counselling.

Please remember that getting help isn’t a sign of weakness. WAITS is always here if you need support!




Address

Wesleyan Building 3rd Floor East, Colmore Circus
Birmingham
B46AR

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441214401443

Website

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