Vulnerable women across the region could be given more opportunities to rebuild their lives after domestic violence if a £15,000 fundraising bid goes to plan.
Almost a year since launching She Beasts – a community interest company (CIC) empowering women through fitness, lifestyle and behavioural coaching – a winter crowdfunding appeal follows. With this money the CIC aims to reach up to 150 women a year; women who are often traumatised and left destitute after enduring intimate partner violence.
Recent data indicates more than 58,000 domestic abuse crimes were reported to West Midlands Police in the year following the first Covid-19 lockdown. Seventy-two per cent of those recorded victims were women. Ensuring victims are “protected from harm and supported to recover” is key to the city’s latest Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy.
She Beasts Founder, Sadie Jones, is determined to give survivors a safe environment to rebuild their self-esteem. She believes fitness is the key to unlocking their futures and achieving financial freedom.
She said: “Exercise offers so many benefits from restoring the nervous system by burning off adrenaline and movement releases endorphins, which combat depression. Exercise is about overcoming challenges week on week and is something you’re in complete control of, whereas domestic abuse robs its victims of control and confidence.
“As the ladies grow stronger, mentally and physically, their confidence flourishes and they start looking at themselves in a different light. Their self-belief in what they can achieve is ignited and for the first time in a long time, the present and the future aren’t such dark places.”
Donations from the #shecarescrowdfund will fund fitness equipment for personal training sessions and classes as well as cover the costs associated with building the CIC’s brand, which is still in its infancy. (A breakdown of costs can be found here)
Since launching, the social enterprise has teamed up with Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid (BSWAID) and continues to work with a mum first referred to Sadie by the charity, and is now a She Beasts apprentice. Terri was at risk of losing her daughter to children’s social services once her mental and physical health began deteriorating during an abusive relationship. Domestic abuse is a significant factor for children needing local authority support, care or protection in the city.
She Beasts will offer tailored fitness and nutrition programmes, lifestyle coaching and community in the heart of the West Midlands, alongside employment opportunities.
She said: “The She Beasts sisterhood is a real support network for the women. They have a community of other women supporting them every step of the way and it’s fantastic to see how they encourage one another.
“More importantly it’s not a short-term fix – we’re here for the ladies long-term. Whereas many organisations supporting women are only able to help for a short time period, we’re here indefinitely.”
Sports, particularly athletics, was a form of escapism from Sadie’s own “tough childhood” in Birmingham.
The competitive bodybuilder discovered weight training almost five years ago and “fell in love with the iron almost immediately”. She plans to return to the stage in 2022 after a four-year hiatus.
Rebounding, a low-impact but high-cardio exercise carried out on mini trampolines, is another exercise she champions for women returning to fitness.
She added: “Sports has been a constant in my life when little else was. It was my outlet and a way I could forget about the stresses at home. Weight lifting allowed me to see physical changes and it was something I had complete control over. Not being able to control many elements of my life growing up was always a challenge.
“Weight lifting is a lot about mindset, digging deep, overcoming challenges and growing stronger with each session, so it can be a gamechanger for the women we support.”
