From Struggle to Strength: How One Woman is Transforming Lives

Sophie, who was a former client of The Nelson Trust, has turned her life around after beating addiction. Today, she’s fiercely dedicated to empowering other women who are struggling with the same issues. Seven years on, Sophie found support through one of The Nelson Trust’s women’s centres across Gloucestershire. After having been released from prison, through which she fought her own war with drug addiction, mental health, and trauma, she came to the centre. Her transformation from hopelessness to realization of this potential underscores the crucial role that our charity plays in fostering such empowerment.

It was only in 2010 that the Nelson Trust finally opened its women’s centres. These facilities are designed to address the unique needs of women battling addiction and mental illness. Since then, these centres have assisted nearly 4,000 women annually. Beyond meeting basic needs, like providing nutritious meals, they create spaces for socialization and enriching experiences, like arts and crafts. As a result, the initiative has been “incredibly successful,” resulting in a 700 percent increase in client retention rates, Caplan said.

Niki Gould is director of women’s services at The Nelson Trust. Her experiences reveal just how central women-only centres are to a sustainable recovery. She notes that “more women finish rehab when they are treated at women-only centres,” underscoring the necessity of creating safe spaces for women to heal and rebuild their lives.

Sophie looks back on her time, and says she will always be thankful for the support she had. She states, “It was the first time I was looked at as a human being.” Now, as a member of The Nelson Trust team, Sophie has embraced her role in advocating for other women, stating, “I’m now able to work with women and do what my key worker did for me, which is hold my hand and say ‘I know a way out.’”

The reach of The Nelson Trust’s programmes goes well beyond individual recovery. In an ideal world, Niki Gould would like to see a women’s centre in every town. She asserts, “Every woman deserves opportunity and if my hands being held out to that woman is enough… I’ll continue to do what I do.”