Water Lily Project

The Water Lily Project is a registered charity that was founded in 2011, when a need was seen in the community, to help and give support to women, affected by domestic violence, substance abuse, sex trade, poverty and homelessness. Our aim is to support and empower women and lead them back to independent living. The charity is based at Water Lily Café in Christchurch, which provides a social hub, bringing people together, and strengthening relationships. We offer a safe, non judgemental place of healing, from trauma and damaging life experiences, within a support based on a family ethos and positive mutual relationships. The Café offers affordable food (Monday-Friday 10am-1.30pm) and further training opportunities, for women supported by the project, such as working in the kitchen, customer services, cooking, food hygiene certificate, and valuable employable skills. There are regular lunch group times for women to meet, and a free meal is provided every Thursday for women in our care. Where they are able to meet with volunteer befrienders, to enable friendships to be built, and provide support and encouragement. We provide one to one practical and emotional support, for those who need it, and will signpost to relevant agencies and networks. Behind the Café there are two rooms, one being a computer room where one to one tutoring is available, encouraging employability skills, CV writing and confidence. The other room is used as an Art and Craft room, where we train our beneficiaries and provide a structured programme of activites including art/craft, singing, assertiveness courses etc.