Thank you! An anonymous donor has sent clothes, cosmetics and treats for the women we support

Avril Lewis, our crisis support manager, sorts through a box of donated items.

A parcel packed with toiletries, cosmetics, clothing, some snacks and colouring books arrived at the New Futures Project the other day.

In other words, just the kind of everyday essentials and treats the women we support here are crying out for.

However, there was no name on the accompanying note.

Instead it simply told us our donor had spent time on placement with us 10 years ago when they were a student social worker.

Our director Della Kagure Brown said: "We have no idea who this person is, but they obviously have fond memories of the project.

"Happily, we've had so many wonderful social work students with us over the years, that this person could be one of any number of people.

"I would like to thank them so much for remembering us and the women we see here.

"This says everything about the community we are trying to build here."

READ MORE: 'I will never forget my time here' - Saying goodbye to our wonderful social work students

READ MORE: 'The calming presence animals can bring' - When Elsie the Dachshund visited New Futures

These wonderful social work students were on placement with us until last month

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.

One, 20-year-old De Montfort University student Hayley, reflected on her time with us.

Speaking a few weeks ago, Hayley said: "This placement has changed me as a person. Hearing the clients' backstories has given me and the others a new perspective.

"You learn to understand their vulnerabilities and their deeper sides, especially when they come in at a time of crisis in their lives.

"I knew the world is cruel - that's a given - but hearing the women's stories from them and reaching the point when they start to open up and trust you is heart-warming.

"They might not have had that opportunity to feel heard before."

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.