People

'If it wasn't for East Berkshire Women's Aid, I would be dead now'

Maggie (second from right) hands over the cheque

East Berkshire Women's Aid is a local charity based in Slough that helps women and children who are fleeing domestic violence.

Nationally, Women's Aid helps more than 320,000 women and children every year.

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Need to get in touch with Women's Aid? Ring 0800 0852654 or visit:

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"Christmas is always a bad time for domestic violence. It was my second husband, a fight erupted...I went back twice and lost most of the tea set round my head."

So recounts Sheena from the East Berkshire refuge, who came to the BWA fleeing for her life five years ago and now works as a volunteer.

She continues: "All I had was a pair of pyjamas, no shoes or anything. At 6am in the morning I had to flee the flat to telephone. The police reacted within 20 seconds, they came and picked me up and I came into the East Berkshire Women's Aid.

"I've never looked back. They saved my life. If it wasn't for them, I would be dead now."

In Slough, the EBWA look after 12 women across three refuges. The charity offers resettlement support, training, support groups, a 24-hour telephone advice and is developing its outreach service.

One of the main areas is also helping the children of the abused mother. And that is where the much-needed BBC Children in Need cheque for £84,520 comes in, handed over by BBC Radio Berkshire's Maggie Philbin on the Andrew Peach breakfast show on Monday 30 April.

Says director Gerry Lejeune: "This money from BBC Children In Need will allow us to have a child worker for three years, which is tremendous for us as it's important that these children are fully supported."

The child worker, officially titled a Child & Family Welfare Officer, helps children up until age 18 to find schools, nursery places, toddler groups and after-school clubs, as well as one-to-one sessions."

Says Gerry: "When you live in a home with domestic violence, the children's school work can suffer badly so our child worker will be on hand to make sure they're up to speed on their homework and give them that one-to-one assistance."

Emotional support is of course also a primary focus.

"You find that the children tend to take on the role of the parent," says Gerry. "One little girl that we had spent five years sleeping on the end of her mother's bed just to try and protect her from the abuse of her father."

BBC Children In Need's Kerry Riley was also present to hand over the cheque.

She said: "This is the best part of my job. Actually coming and seeing how that money is put into action is the most fantastic feeling. It makes all that hard work sat behind a desk worthwhile."

Other Berkshire charities also benefited from BBC Children In Need:

Woodland Centre Trust - Reading

BBC Children In Need is funding a summer holiday project for disabled children and young people, aged three to 16 years, based at a woodland adventure centre. The grant is for £8,622 over two years.

Tilehurst Junior Youth Club - Reading

The project will provide three activity holidays for 30 children of eight to 13 years from low-income families, to complement the basic youth club activity. The grant is for £3,800 over two years.