MORE THAN £10,000 RAISED AT THE ‘HAVEN HEIGHTS’ CHARITY ABSEIL
Funds raised will go to those supported by The Haven Wolverhampton, the city’s leading provider of domestic abuse and sexual violence services
“…Stepping over that edge felt like a kind of freedom. Stepping out of the box of what it means to look and be a survivor.”
More than £10,000 has been raised at this weekend’s charity abseil, ‘Haven Heights’, to fund lifesaving support services for women and children in Wolverhampton affected by abuse.
30 brave abseilers descended from the 98ft Green House building at the Custard Factory, in Birmingham last Saturday, as an act of solidarity with women and children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
‘Haven Heights’ was organised by and raised funds for The Haven Wolverhampton, the Women’s Aid organisation that supports victims and survivors in the region. Participants included the charity’s corporate partners such as NatWest Wolverhampton, Salisbury Poultry, and the Capital Group, alongside individual supporters and The Haven Wolverhampton’s employees.
Highlighting the demand for essential support services, it is estimated that 2.2m women were affected by domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025* and that more than 6,800 children in the West Midlands were domestic abuse victims between 2022 and 2024.**
The funds raised at ‘Haven Heights’ will go directly towards The Haven Wolverhampton’s services, which includes its Haven Hub support over the phone, online, and in person, its safe accommodation, community outreach, support for children, and recovery services such as counselling and life skills.
Anna Pendlebury, Head of Fundraising and Engagement, said:
“Our ‘Haven Heights’ abseil was a fun and heartwarming day – it was inspiring to watch each of our abseilers take on the 98ft descent in support of women and children, many of them motivated by personal reasons to challenge themselves. The atmosphere was just incredible, and every abseiler was met with support, cheers, and words of encouragement by our team and the spectators. The fact we’ve raised a truly impactful amount of money – more than £10,000 – highlights our community’s commitment to the people that we support at The Haven Wolverhampton.
“Thank you to everyone who abseiled, sponsored, volunteered, and helped us to make this day such a success. This collaborative effort will make such a difference and provide much needed funds so we can keep supporting women and children affected by abuse.”
Rufsana Begum, Unshamed Leadership Coach and a survivor, who bravely took part in the abseil while conquering her fear of heights, said:
“I abseiled for The Haven because I know what it feels like to live with shame. As a survivor, growing up asking for help felt impossible. Doing something like this in public, saying out loud why I was there, would once have terrified me. But stepping over that edge felt like a kind of freedom. Stepping out of the box of what it means to look and be a survivor. With every step down the wall, I felt another layer of shame drop away.
“If you’re a woman living with fear or silence, please know this: You don’t have to do it alone. Reach out. Speak to The Haven. When you take that step, there will be someone waiting for you on the other side.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, please call our free helpline on 08000 194 400 or visit www.havenrefuge.org.uk
Photos courtesy of Nkh_photography