25 March 2026
For Women’s History Month 2026, we sat down with three leaders from the THRIVE partnership, a collaborative model bringing together WithYou, Harbour, and Intuitive Thinking Skills (ITS) to support people and especially women, facing overlapping challenges such as domestic abuse, substance use, homelessness, and trauma.
Representing each organisation were:
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Stacey Skilton, Head of Service Delivery, WithYou
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Olivia McLurg, Team Leader, Harbour
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Sarah Eales, THRIVE Ambassador Lead, Intuitive Thinking Skills
THRIVE is delivered in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. Together, they shared how integrated, trauma‑informed support is reshaping outcomes for women across Redcar and Cleveland.
What problem does your integrated partnership exist to solve, and why is a joined‑up approach essential?
Stacey (WithYou):
“We want to speed up access to the best support possible. A joined‑up approach is essential for building trusting relationships. The better the relationship, the more empowered people can feel to talk, which means we can offer the right care at the right time.”
Olivia (Harbour):
“Women often face multiple disadvantages at once—domestic abuse, substance use, mental health issues, housing instability. A seamless, person‑centred pathway is vital. Our partnership means women don’t fall through gaps or receive conflicting advice.”
Sarah (ITS):
“We maintain a one‑door policy across THRIVE. Women can enter through any of our organisations and still access the full range of support. That consistency builds trust and shows we’re here to help them plan for the future they want.”
What are the most significant barriers women face when navigating services, and how does THRIVE reduce that complexity?
Olivia (Harbour):
“Stigma is huge—especially around substance use and parenting. Many women fear losing custody of their children. Trauma, coercion, and control can also make it difficult to attend appointments or trust professionals.”
Stacey (WithYou):
“We don’t label or judge. We recognise that good mothers use substances and we are here to help when they are ready. We offer one front door and reduce the need for women to retell their story. Staff with lived experience bring compassion and understanding.”
Sarah (ITS):
Substance use, abuse, and behaviour are interconnected. Many women don’t understand what’s happening to them, so they don’t seek help. Our trauma‑informed approach, safe spaces, and behaviour‑change programmes help women understand the root causes and build confidence.
What does integrated support look like day‑to‑day for a woman entering your services?
Stacey (WithYou):
“We have a female‑focused worker who meets women where they are—literally. We also run domestic abuse drop‑ins at our site and have recovery workers based in social care to reduce fear and speed up access.”
Olivia (Harbour):
“Our 24‑hour helpline is often the first point of contact. We offer community drop‑ins, structured group work in refuge, and a range of safe accommodation options. A WithYou recovery worker visits weekly to provide integrated domestic abuse and substance use support.”
Sarah (ITS):
“We use a joint case management system so women aren’t retraumatised by repeating their story. Our ambassadors and facilitators deliver behaviour‑change programmes that help women understand their experiences and develop healthier coping strategies.”
How do your learning and development programmes help women rebuild identity and long‑term stability?
Olivia (Harbour):
“Many women have experienced prolonged trauma and coercive control. Our group work helps them reflect, understand the impact of abuse, and begin rebuilding confidence and independence.”
Stacey (WithYou):
Our female‑only peer support group is powerful. Women see recovery in action and learn from each other in a safe, supportive environment.
Sarah (ITS):
“We help women understand how their past experiences shape their choices. Our programmes focus on empowerment, emotional regulation, and building healthy relationships with themselves. It’s about seeing themselves beyond what they’ve been through.”
What does effective leadership look like when supporting women experiencing trauma, addiction, and crisis simultaneously?
Stacey (WithYou):
“Good communication and accurate record‑keeping are essential. Staff need up‑to‑date information to deliver trauma‑informed care.”
Olivia (Harbour):
“Leadership must balance service quality with staff wellbeing. This work is emotionally demanding. Regular supervision, reflective practice, and a psychologically safe environment are critical.”
Sarah (ITS):
“Across THRIVE, we have a shared governance structure and a one‑year strategy to strengthen joint working. Leaders need to champion collaboration and problem‑solving.”
How has the North East shaped the way your partnership operates?
Olivia (Harbour):
“The region has a high number of people with multiple needs. Demand for safe accommodation is significant, and we’re responding by launching a multiple‑needs refuge.”
Stacey (WithYou):
“WithYou will provide on‑site support at the new refuge. Local communities are resilient, but the scale of need means integrated services are essential.”
Sarah (ITS):
“The North East has strong community spirit. That helps us build peer networks and ambassador roles that empower women to support each other.”
What system changes or innovations are most urgently needed to improve outcomes for vulnerable women?
Stacey (WithYou):
“We need support available in more everyday settings—GPs, schools, community hubs.”
Olivia (Harbour):
“Increased safe accommodation is critical. Demand still exceeds availability, meaning some women remain in unsafe situations or are placed out of area.”
Sarah (ITS):
“We need more trauma‑informed, behaviour‑change programmes embedded across services. Understanding the ‘why’ behind behaviour is key to long‑term stability.”
Can you share a moment that captures the difference integrated, trauma‑informed support can make?
Olivia (Harbour):
We’ve supported women who, before THRIVE, would have had referrals rejected and been unable to access safe accommodation. Now, they’re entering refuge safely and engaging with substance use support, education, and wellbeing programmes. It’s life‑changing.
Sarah (ITS):
“One of our ambassadors came through our services after completing our behaviour‑change courses. She started with low confidence and struggled to trust others. Through THRIVE’s joined‑up support, she developed new skills, rebuilt her confidence, and is now supporting other women. She shows that lasting change is possible.”
Stacey (WithYou):
“We see women move from crisis to stability because they’re finally receiving coordinated, compassionate support. That’s the power of partnership.”
If you want to learn more about the THRIVE partnership in Redcar and Cleveland, visit wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/redcar-and-cleveland