'I found my own strength and healing here' - social work student Stephina loved being at New Futures

Steph has thrived during her time with us

We offer placements to social work students from universities in Leicester and further afield, enabling dozens of undergraduates to spend between 70 and 100 days here at the project, directly helping the women we support.

Each is placed under the supervision of a qualified social worker and is responsible for a caseload of up to 12 women or young people, giving them invaluable real-life work experience before they resume their studies.

The students say being confronted with the realities of our clients’ lives – including the corrosive effects of homelessness, debt, substance use, mental ill-health, sexual abuse, domestic violence or sex work – has a profound effect on them and gives them an insight into the profession.

Stephina Phiri, who will complete her social work degree at De Montfort University later this year, spent 100 days with us.

After completing her placement earlier this month, she reflected on her time here. "The project really leaves its mark on people," she tells us.

"I had my own experience of abuse and trauma and the biggest surprise for me was that I found my own strength and healing through the work I did here.

"Also, seeing the strength of the women I met here reinforced my passion for social work. This is the right career for me.

"It's been such a rewarding experience overall. I told my personal tutor at university that I could not imagine anywhere better for my placement.

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Our social work students work closely with our clients

"There's nothing I love more than empowering and validating women and young people, and helping them realise they are not defined by anyone but themselves.

"They are amazing, strong and resilient people. Sometimes they just need someone to sit down with them who says to them 'I am listening, I hear you'.

"Even if they only come in for a chat, a cup of tea or a shower, so many of the women brighten up immediately.

“This is my last placement before I finish my course, and it has equipped me as a professional and as a person.

“My previous placement was with vulnerable adults, so I’d never worked with young people until I came here. It has been an amazing experience.

“At first I was worried some of the things we were trying to deal with for them might trigger me because of my own personal trauma, but I was shocked to see the experience was helping me heal too.

“The staff at New Futures, particularly Abi, Carl, Avril and Manisha, were wonderful. If they thought I was struggling they would tell me to take as much time as I needed.

"The other students are amazing, a real team. If someone is feeling overwhelmed, you'll hear one of the others say 'Do you need help? I'll take over while you have a break'.

“I’m working toward my professional qualification, but I am still a woman who is still healing. The New Futures Project has been a big part of that.

“People need to know about the New Futures Project and the incredible work it does. It has become my other home and I will miss it when I leave.”

 The New Futures Project offers a comprehensive welfare and counselling service for women and young people dealing with sexual abuse or exploitation, domestic violence, trafficking, poverty and debt, substance use or mental ill-health.

Call us on 0116 251 0803 or send us a message at: info@new-futures.org.uk

You can find us at 71 London Road, Leicester, LE2 0PE.