Across West Suffolk and beyond, a small but dedicated charity is making a big difference to people affected by relationship abuse. Alumah, founded nearly a decade ago by the chief executive officer, Liz, supports individuals aged seven and upwards, working with people of all genders to help them understand their experiences and move forward.
With both in-person and online workshops (adults only) programmes available, Alumah can reach and support people locally, as well as further a field.
For Liz, the journey began from personal experience. “I left my relationship in 2001. I had no idea where to go or how to get help,” she explains. “I knew something wasn’t right, but I didn’t know it was abuse. I just thought I was making a fuss… that it was my fault.”
That experience shaped Alumah’s mission today: to educate, support and empower those affected by abuse, ensuring no one feels as lost or alone as she once did.
At the time Alumah was founded, support in the local area was limited.“The only help available for women was if you had a child under five,” Liz says. “So, I made it open for everybody.” Today, Alumah offers a wide range of services, including
- Curve – a ten-week programme providing support, guidance and practical tools to help people understand and cope with the effects of abuse
- Evolve – a six-week self-esteem programme designed tohelp people rediscover their strengths, build confidenceand move forward
- Creative group – a safe space to explore emotions, processexperiences and find new ways to heal
- Counselling for both adults and children (aged 7+)
Self-esteem and healthy relationship workshops can also be delivered in schools and youth settings, alongside Horizon, a structured programme that supports children who have experienced domestic abuse within the home.
There is also a specialist workshop for members of the armed forces, raising awareness of domestic abuse and exploring how military life can sometimes make it more prevalent or harder to recognise. People can access support through self-referral or via other agencies.
While demand is high and some services do have waiting lists, the team works hard to ensure everyone receives the right support at the right time. “We try to cover as much as we can,” Liz explains, “but like many charities, funding is a big issue.”
Despite being a small team, Alumah supports around 50 individuals each month and is entirely funded by grants and donations.
A key part of Alumah’s work is helping people understand their experiences and rebuild confidence.
“The aim is for people to understand what’s happened to them and to know how to move forward,” says Liz. “We educate, support and empower them to move on into another life, whatever that looks like for them.” For many, that journey is life-changing. “We’ve had people say, ‘you saved my life.’ Others have left relationships, changed careers, or gone back to places they once avoided. They’re small steps, but each one is huge for that person.
Alongside its core programmes, Alumah is embracing creativity as a powerful tool for healing. Working in partnership with Status Creative, the charity offers creative writing and music workshops designed to help people express themselves in a safe, supportive environment.
These sessions are run monthly, and are open to anyone aged 16+. They currently have no waiting list.
“It can feel really exposing to write things down,” Liz says. “But people don’t have to share anything unless they want to. It’s about building confidence and finding a way to express what’s going on. ”Using simple but powerful techniques, participants create poetry or music, using these outlets as a way to express how they are feeling. In one session, individuals wrote down words and phrases, which were then combined into a collaborative piece, resulting in something deeply meaningful and personal.
“The feedback has been amazing,” Liz adds. “People didn’twant these sessions to stop.”If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining one ofthese sessions, you can contact Alumah directly at info@alumah.co.uk.
One of the biggest challenges Alumah faces is visibility. “We’ve got a huge number of referrals coming through, but there are still people who might not be aware of all the services we offer,” Liz says. That’s why raising awareness is so important, so that anyone experiencing abuse knows help is available and accessible. Whether someone is ready to seek support or simply wants to understand more, Alumah offers a compassionate, non-judgemental space to begin that journey.
As Liz puts it: “Every person who comes through the door isimportant. We want them to feel heard and understood.”
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