A new love of life

Nia arrived at Ella’s this summer. She’d been trafficked by her then partner and then kept as a slave, abused and exploited by his whole family.

Welcomed with flowers

‘I will never forget the day I came to Ella’s,’ says Nia. ‘I arrived at the bus station and Layla [Service Manager at Ella’s] was waiting for me with flowers. I was so happy. I’d been living in danger, and now there was someone welcoming me with flowers!’

When she arrived at the Ella's house, Nia felt safe for the first time in a long time. ‘In my room I had toiletries, towels... It’s emotional when I remember that day, I couldn’t believe I was in a safe place with people to help me. It’s warm, I can take a shower when I want to.’

“At last, I could sleep without thinking someone would kill me in the night.”

Sleep was a huge challenge for Nia when she arrived. Her trauma caused her to stop sleeping. She would go days with just a few hours sleep, and it was making her feel physically and mentally unwell. This was the first challenge Nia’s support worker at Ella’s helped her with, supporting her to register with a new GP away from her old life, get the mental health care she needed, and settle into the safety of her new room. ‘At last, I could sleep without thinking someone would kill me in the night,’ says Nia.

Nia (on the left) is now looking forward to her future with new possibilities.

(Photo: Lloyds Bank Foundation/Ella's)

New life foundations

We’ve also been helping Nia with accessing the benefits she’s entitled to, as well as help with immigration and pathways to employability skills. She’s growing in confidence and hope all the time, and recently applied for and was offered a new job! 

‘It’s because of Ella’s I knew about that opportunity and have the confidence to do this,’ says Nia. ‘I have changed, I used to feel weak but now I feel more strong. I want to work, and I feel hopeful about the future. I am more independent, a different person to when I arrived.’

“I’m happy that I can start to look towards my future. I’m two different people, and I’m proud of this new person I am now!”

Whole life transformation

Nia says that the impact of her time with Ella’s so far has been about more than practical help. She’s made friends, is building community, and exercising.

‘Ella’s is about my whole life. I even took part in a hill walk with TRIBE,’ says Nia. ‘I’m looking after my skin, my hair. I feel like a woman who deserves a good life.’

‘When you are at Ella’s, you see life. What life is and can be. I love Ella’s. I will always be thankful. I will tell the story of Ella’s to my children... in 105 years, I will still be talking about Ella’s. I’m happy that I can start to look towards my future. I’m two different people, and I’m proud of this new person I am now!’

We are committed to being there for women like Nia. Please, join us if you can.