Great Yarmouth domestic abuse charity gets lottery grant of £400,000

The cheque for Feathers Futures was presented by the mayor of Great Yarmouth, Penny Carpenter

A charity that helps women rebuild their lives after suffering domestic abuse has been given nearly £400,000.

The National Lottery Community Fund granted the money to Great Yarmouth-based Feathers Futures.

Presented by the Norfolk town's mayor Penny Carpenter, the award will fund four support workers over the next five years.

It is the third grant made to the charity by the National Lottery since 2021.

Jo Critch, chief executive of Feathers Futures, said the funding would help staff "deliver the groups, activities and specialist support day in, day out".

The grant was presented on a giant cheque and the mayor said it was a fantastic to make the award as it coincided with International Women's Day.

"I've known Jo for a long time and I know the passion and the ladies here today, I know they really benefit from this because this is a safe space," said Ms Carpenter, who is a borough councillor for Caister North.

"It gives them the confidence to go out into the world and rebuild their lives."

The charity said it had helped more than a thousand women since it was founded in 2019, with 450 helped in the past year alone.

Feathers Futures celebrated the grant, and International Women's Day with cakes and pampering sessions for members

In March 2021, the National Lottery gave £137,532, and a further £9,984 two months later.

To mark the latest grant, the charity laid on craft activities, cakes and refreshments and a beautician hosted pampering sessions.

Ms Critch added: "We are celebrating every single woman in Great Yarmouth who wants to come along and have some treats, some pampering and know they are an incredible bunch."