Ive just had a text from a young woman I worked with from age of 13 who was in a forced marriage.. It took her 4 years to get out of.. It was the most brutal and full on work I& #39;ve ever done. She& #39;s just messaged to say she& #39;s off to uni on the 25th..what a woman. What. A. Woman.

To funders who may read this.. This relationship was built over 6 years.. Please please consider the impact of small grassroots charities needing multi year funding to help keep programmes in place so we can build trusting relationships. It really, really matters.

P. S community arts isn& #39;t fluff. It creates safe space for trusting relationships to grow. Believe in it. Fund it. Its needed more than ever.