CHRISTCHURCH-based charity The Water Lily Project, which supports vulnerable women back to independent living, has announced it is now at full capacity.

The impact of the pandemic and lockdown has made a huge impact on women, especially those in lower income households or in violent relationships.

Many local women have turned to the charity, which is based on Barrack Road, for help, with 80 women now receiving support via the Water Lily Project.

Liz Carter, Water Lily Project Manager said: “We have recruited another support worker so our team of four support workers are now helping 20 women each.

“We work on a one-to-one basis (remotely during Covid) and are finding more women throughout BCP are struggling with financial issues, mental health concerns as well as domestic abuse.

“The fact is that some areas of BCP are extremely deprived.”

The charity has also been affected by loss of revenue from its community café which has been closed during the three lockdowns.

Liz Carter added: “The proceeds from our community café help fund some of our charity initiatives so it’s a blow to our turnover.

We’ve also taken no support from the government furlough scheme as we’ve needed our café manager to continue to help us behind-the-scenes to support some of our volunteers who are vulnerable.”

“Unlike other charities, we work with beneficiaries for up to two years so the women we help are empowered to get back to totally independent living.”

And it’s not just women who benefit from The Water Lily Project. Over the years, it’s become a focus for the overall community – men, women, young and old.

The Water Lily Project is a Christian charity and also celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

“We’ve had to grow quickly in this pandemic and expand our support network,” said Mrs Carter.

“The charity has transitioned from small to medium status, yet we receive no statutory or local government funding.

“We rely solely on the goodwill of our community to keep us going. And we need that now more than ever.”

Out of lockdown, it offers many levels of support including homemade lunches for the elderly and a multigenerational initiative called Chatterbox which brings the old and young together for companionship and fun.

It also works alongside local foodbanks, supplying food vouchers for women in need and has a ‘Pay it Forward’ scheme to help feed both men and women who are homeless.

If you’re interested in supporting the local work of The Water Lily Project, here’s how you can help:

£5 donation provides a hot meal for a homeless or vulnerable person

£10 donation provides an hour of 1:1 support for a vulnerable woman

24:7 donation – pledge £7 a month for 24 months and help a vulnerable woman back to independent living.

Visit www.waterlilyproject.org.uk for more information or email: manager@waterlilyproject.org.uk