Lent Appeal 2022: Restored

Lent Appeal 2022: Restored

21 March 2022 by Bekah Legg in Isolation, Mental Health.

One of the greatest impacts of domestic abuse is isolation. The scars of physical abuse are easy to understand but the impact of emotional and psychological abuse can be harder to see yet equally, if not more, damaging.

Abusers systematically cut their victims off from friends and family and convince them that no one cares and that they are not worthy of support.

The knock on effect to mental health is devastating.

That only got worse during lockdown.

A crime that by definition is carried out behind closed doors, was given the opportunity to thrive as those doors were closed for protracted periods of time, family members had nowhere to go for respite and the law itself provided new tools for the controller to manipulate and isolate their victims further.

At Restored we seek to change the story for survivors by creating welcoming, supportive communities for women who have been subjected to abuse.

Somewhere they can rediscover their identity, value and purpose.

We do that in our online Survivors’ Network and in person through Restored Beacons.

The Restored Survivors’ Network

The Restored Survivors’ Network is an online community of nearly 450 women (it has grown from 147 pre-lockdown). Through a combination of online resources, monthly dropins, peer support groups and recovery courses we have been able to harness the power of #MeToo.

We have created communities of women who have a shared experience, who don’t judge, but who cheer each other on, pick each other up and stand alongside each other.

It has been life transforming for women who thought no one cared or understood.

But we wanted to do more. We wanted to create real physical spaces to provide face-to-face support for those who have been subjected to abuse. Psalm 68 tells us that God places the lonely in families and we believe the Church is uniquely positioned to provide the wrap round care and love that those recovering from abuse need.

Restored Beacons

Restored Beacons are partnerships between the local church and Restored and they are our response to the promise of Psalm 68.

Restored provides training and resources to equip and empower a church to provide support and welcome for those who have been subjected to abuse and to walk alongside them on their journey to recovery.

The church commits to providing a Restored Beacon Coordinator who will lead the church’s response to domestic abuse and coordinate support.

Becoming a Restored Beacon is a whole church affair but you can start changing the story for survivors by taking smaller steps:

  • Connect with your local service provider and offer your support
  • Pray for families in your community or lead corporate prayer in a church service for survivors of domestic abuse (we have some examples on our website).
  • Buy a copy of the Restored Survivors’ Handbook for your church or to give away to someone who may need one.
  • Give a copy of our Church guide to your church leader to equip them to respond to domestic abuse

Find out more about Restored Beacons here https://www.restored-uk.org/partner/churches/restored-beacons/.

The Diocese of London’s Lent Appeal Page is full of resources for churches that want to support the Lent Appeal this year, including a sermon from Bishop Graham for use in churches, a prayer diary, powerpoint for church notices and information for pew sheets.

You can find all those resources HERE.

Bekah Legg

Bekah Legg

Bekah Legg is the CEO of Restored, a Christian charity with a mission to speak up about violence against women and girls, equip the church to stand against domestic abuse and support survivors. It hosts an online community for Christian women who have been subjected to domestic abuse.

View all posts by Bekah Legg

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