Women of Justice Arise – Community Group of the Year nomination

Women of Justice Arise – Community Group of the Year nomination

Lived experience of arriving in the UK as an asylum seeker with a six-month-old baby led Deborah Jandles to start a charity to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

Women of Justice Arise, based in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre, works with refugees, asylum seekers, the homeless and members of ethnic minority communities.

It runs a culturally relevant food bank, a baby bank for pregnant women and mums, aims to upskill women into the workplace and offers a space for people to connect and for friendships to grow.

Deborah moved to the UK from Zimbabwe and now lives in Hanley. She works alongside two fellow trustees and has a team of around 30 volunteers.

She is also working with Stoke-on-Trent College to offer volunteer opportunities for students.

Deborah said: “I came to the UK as an asylum seeker. I wasn’t allowed to work so I volunteered at the Citizens Advice Bureau, where I heard about the problems that asylum seekers were facing.

“In particular I found that a lot of mothers were having problems so I set up a support group, which went on to become the charity Women of Justice Arise.

“We find that a lot of people feel depressed because they aren’t able to find a job. We’re trying to empower women. We find out what they’re good at and do whatever we can to upskill them.”

The work of Women of Justice Arise grew during the pandemic when it received grant funding to run a culturally relevant food bank. It’s currently applying for grant funding to continue the work carried out at its base at Old Hall Street, Hanley.

Women of Justice Arise has been nominated in the Community Group of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards.

Deborah said: “I’m really amazed to have been nominated for a Your Heroes Award. I feel honoured. When you’re doing these things you’re thinking about the impact it’s having on people rather than receiving recognition for the work.”