THE QUEEN WILL VISIT STORM FAMILY CENTRE
Thursday 9th February 2023
The Queen will visit the STORM Family Centre as it marks its 19th anniversary. The centre supports people affected by domestic violence and offers services to young and older people within the community.
Her Majesty will meet Sabrina Elba, who is STORM’s Patron and Kanya King CBE (the British entrepreneur who is the founder of the MOBO Awards and a supporter of the charity). Her Majesty will meet the centre’s lunch club members, before joining a discussion with domestic violence survivors and supporters and users of the centre.
STORM was founded by Marie Hanson MBE. The charity offers services to the local community including counselling for domestic violence sufferers and survivors, as well as for women and children who have suffered sexual abuse. It also has a focus on youth work and general wellbeing. The charity started by helping four women and has grown from strength to strength in the last 19 years, during which time it has supported around 3,000 women to date, and over 1,000 young people.
The charity is key to the community and helps those in need of employment and assistance. It offers childcare services, career and training courses, and extensive youth work. STORM also has its own nursery complete with a sensory room to cater for children with special educational needs and children who have suffered trauma and abuse.
The charity works hard to provide empowerment opportunities for people to gain education and build confidence and has an open-door policy for users.
On arrival at the centre, Her Majesty will be greeted by Marie Hanson and other dignitaries before meeting Sabrina Elba and Kanya King in the reception area.
Her Majesty will then visit the community kitchen where she will meet some of the centre’s attendees, along with nursery staff and volunteer helpers.
The Queen will meet five survivors, along with Bishop Rose and Kanya King during a domestic violence discussion over a cup of tea, before joining a reception where some of the activities that STORM offers will be showcased: including candle making, art lessons and computer skills. Her Majesty will then unveil a commemorative plaque and cut a cake to celebrate her visit to STORM before departing.
