Three leading specialist charities — Staffordshire Women’s Aid, Pathway Project and SARAC — came together to deliver the first-ever Tri Wellbeing Day, a conference dedicated to supporting the wellbeing, resilience and professional strength of their teams.
Hosted at Uttoxeter Racecourse, the full-day event brought together staff and volunteers working across domestic abuse and sexual violence services for a carefully curated programme blending restorative activities, professional learning and cross-organisational connection.
The event marked an important milestone in the growing partnership between the three organisations, which collectively support thousands of survivors across Staffordshire each year.
A Day Dedicated to those who Support Others
The day began with a welcome breakfast, followed by an introductory address and networking activities designed to help colleagues connect with peers they may not normally meet through their day-to-day work.
The programme featured an opening address from Jess Phillips, before moving into sessions exploring workplace culture, emotional resilience and the realities of trauma-exposed work.
Participants also took part in a range of wellbeing-focused activities, including a sound bath session with Verity, yoga breathing with Sara Mae and a motivational talk from Peggy. Throughout the day, staff had opportunities to reflect, share experiences and strengthen supportive relationships across agencies.
Interactive wellbeing activities and a collaborative prize challenge helped create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, encouraging staff to pause, reconnect and focus on their own wellbeing.
Recognising the Importance of Staff Wellbeing
Frontline workers in domestic abuse and sexual violence services undertake some of the most emotionally demanding roles in the charity sector. They support individuals experiencing trauma, crisis and long-term harm, often while navigating complex systems to secure safety and justice for survivors.
While this work is vital, it can also be emotionally challenging.
Investing in staff wellbeing is therefore essential. In trauma-informed environments, the wellbeing of staff has a direct impact on service delivery. Emotionally supported teams are better equipped to provide consistent care, maintain safe environments and sustain the resilience needed for long-term support work.
Strong wellbeing support also helps organisations retain skilled staff, strengthen professional relationships and build resilient services that can continue supporting communities effectively.
A Shared Commitment across three Organisations
Our teams carry a huge emotional load as they work to protect and empower survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Their work is skilled, powerful and often unseen. This conference was an opportunity to recognise that dedication and create space for our staff to pause, reflect and be supported themselves.
Staff wellbeing is fundamental to the quality and sustainability of the services we provide. When our staff are supported, survivors are better supported too. – Staffordshire Women’s Aid, Pathway Project and SARAC
The organisations emphasised that wellbeing is not a one-off initiative but a core element of long-term organisational culture, something they are committed to championing together.
Strengthening Partnership Working across Staffordshire
The Tri Wellbeing Day also highlighted the growing strength of partnership working across the county. By bringing together teams from three specialist organisations, the event helped strengthen collaborative relationships and build a more connected network of support for people experiencing abuse.
Following positive feedback from attendees and organisers, all three charities hope to explore further joint initiatives aimed at continuing to nurture a healthy, resilient and well-supported workforce.
