Nottingham Central Women’s Aid (NCWA) are delighted to announce that Samantha Morton, actress,
screenwriter and director, has agreed to become the first patron of our charity.

NCWA was originally founded in the 1970s to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse. We provide temporary accommodation and support services for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse of a sexual, mental, physical, emotional, psychological or financial nature. In March 2011 the refuge was closed down due to the government cuts in funding, however following a period of campaigning, fundraising and a restructure in January 2012 the former workers re-opened the
refuge initially on a purely voluntary basis as a new charity with a new board of trustees. We are the only independent women’s refuge in Nottingham and rely upon our fundraising, donations in kind and volunteers to help run the service. We have accommodated thousands of women and children over the years supporting families to rebuild their lives free from fear.

Clifton born Samantha often stayed at a women’s refuge in Nottingham as a child. She visited the refuge at weekends where her mother lived for a time due to a violently abusive husband. Samantha said “Refuge’s like Nottingham Central Women’s Aid provide such vital accommodation and support for women and children at a time when they are often frightened, confused and have nowhere else to turn. As a child I found the refuge a welcoming and safe haven to spend time with my mum without the fear we were subjected to. I am very proud of the work and achievements of NCWA, it is so important that charities like this are able to provide these services, which are sadly still in much demand today”.

Mandy Mellor, founder of the charity added “It’s fantastic that we’ve got Samantha’s support. We are looking to grow from strength to strength and increase the accommodation and services we offer. With her backing I really feel we can achieve this”.

Samantha has received critical acclaim and numerous accolades throughout her career including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award and two nominations for an Academy Award. She joined the Central Junior Television Workshop, and soon began her career in British television in 1991. She made the transition to film in 1996 and found mainstream success with the science fiction thriller Minority
Report in 2002. Her most recent acting credits include the film adaptation Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and the television
dramas Rillington Place and Harlots.

For more information contact support@centralwomensaid.org