Roots & Wings

 Roots and Wings was born out of unimaginable loss and a profound commitment to healing. On 26 October 2001, my daughter Cassandra aged 19 was tragically murdered. In the wake of this devastating event, I searched for a way to transform grief into purpose. In 2008, we founded this charity in her honour, a living legacy that channels pain into compassion, and remembrance into action.

What began as a personal journey of healing has grown into a community-based support programme that empowers minority and marginalised women, especially those who have experienced domestic abuse, trauma, or systemic disadvantage. Roots and Wings is not just a project—it is a testament to resilience, love, and the belief that even in the darkest moments, hope can take flight.

Roots and Wings is a community-based support programme designed to tackle health inequalities by empowering minority and marginalised women, particularly those who have experienced domestic abuse, trauma, or systemic disadvantage. We are requesting £45,000 Fund to deliver this vital initiative, which will provide culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services to women facing multiple barriers to wellbeing.

The name Roots and Wings reflects our mission: to help women establish strong foundations (“roots”) through safety, stability, and support, while nurturing their ability to grow, heal, and thrive (“wings”) through empowerment, education, and connection. Our work is grounded in compassion, cultural understanding, and lived experience.

The project will deliver:

• Weekly support group sessions facilitated by trained professionals, offering a safe space for healing, peer connection, and emotional resilience.
• One-to-one therapeutic support tailored to trauma recovery and mental health needs.
• Healthy food provision at each session, with a focus on nutrition for women managing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and stress-related illness.
• Empowerment workshops covering confidence-building, financial literacy, navigating public services, and employment readiness.
• Emergency care packages including food, hygiene essentials, and baby items for women in crisis.
• Volunteer training for survivors to become peer mentors and community advocates.

Our target groups include Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic women, refugee and migrant women, and those living in poverty or experiencing domestic violence. Many of these women are isolated, economically disadvantaged, and underserved by mainstream services. By centring their voices and lived experiences, we will create a safe, inclusive space where healing and empowerment are possible.

The difference this project will make is both immediate and long-term. Women will experience reduced isolation, improved mental and physical health, and increased access to vital resources. They will gain confidence, build support networks, and develop the tools to rebuild their lives. By training peer mentors, we will also create a ripple effect—empowering women to support others and strengthening the fabric of our

 community.

This funding will allow us to expand our reach and deepen our impact in Brixton and Peckham. It will help cover staffing costs (facilitator and project manager), venue hire, professional facilitation, safeguarding measures, and healthy food provision. It will