Rosalie Ryrie Foundation
The building used to house Wakefield’s St John’s Ambulance, but then became a derelict hangout for street drinkers and drug users. Ann Ramsden saw it at its worst, but somehow spotted its potential. It’s now a bright and cheerful space, full of couches and cushions ready to welcome clients to the Rosalie Ryrie Foundation.
Named after Ann’s mum the Foundation exists to help people affected by domestic violence to change their behaviour. The building is now called Footsteps because for most people walking through the door is the beginning of an important and often difficult journey.
Different windows
“Although we work with victims, perpetrators and children the journey taken boils down to the same thing. A lot of these people have been abused themselves as children so the journey’s about building their self-esteem up, getting them to look through different windows and realise they’ve got a choice about which one they look through,” explains Ann. “We take them through their life experiences, what their beliefs are, why they think it’s ok and challenge them.”
The Foundation works to change behaviours by teaching people alternative ways of reacting. Its existence is the product of Ann’s determined graft. Whilst working in residential care she saw how children who’d left situations of domestic violence were starting to use controlling behaviours themselves when they became teenagers. As she explains, “I couldn’t access any help for them so I thought ‘right, I’ll do it myself’”. And she has. In just three years the Foundation has had over 600 referrals and now runs sessions for groups, individuals, families and couples on four days a week.
Support from WYCAS
Ann saw her mum trapped by domestic violence. She doesn’t want anyone else to suffer what she witnessed. The Foundation is testament to her determination, which is fuelled by her experience. “I didn’t know anything about voluntary organisations or funding or having to spend everything exactly how you’re supposed to spend it,” she outlines. “I was always employed so it was all new to me.” After launching herself in at the deep end she called on Julie Haley, the WYCAS Community Accountant for Wakefield who was able to offer her one to one support and training.
“Julie’s support was tailored to us, it was brilliant. If I’d been in a group I wouldn’t have dared ask anything. And because it’s tailored to us I don’t have to cover stuff I don’t need to know about, like VAT or anything like that.”
The Foundation has just secured four years of vital funding from a charity. According to Ann, “That’s due to WYCAS teaching us what we’re meant to do with it!” And it’s not going to stop there, on top of bookkeeping and good financial systems Ann knows she will need Julie’s support to enter the world of commissioned services. “We want to be self-sustaining, so I am going to have to know about VAT after all, and wages and a whole lot more.”