Wreaths of Hope

Over the last six years, Strength & Stem has helped many female modern slavery survivors increase their sense of wellbeing, build positive relationships and be prepared for employment. 

Julie Christie-Webb, its interim CEO, shares the incredible, transformational impact of Strength & Stem: “We passionately believe that floristry can be a catalyst for growth in the lives of the women we work alongside. Working with flowers, which are so beautiful and sensory, seems to have a healing power. The flowers become a metaphor for life. The women spend hours working with the flowers – selecting, touching, smelling, arranging them – and begin to feel restored and more beautiful themselves. Sensory engagement with flowers generates creativity and encourages self-expression.” 

Strength & Stem has a Christian ethos and is motivated by God’s unconditional love, shaped by Jesus’ teachings, and inspired by the wisdom of the Spirit for the purpose of supporting female survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking as they begin to heal, gain independence, and experience true freedom.  

Female modern slavery survivors are referred to Strength & Stem by support organisations such as Medaille Trust, Caritas Bakhita House and Ella’s, to participate on the Flowers for the Future Programme that runs from May to December. Fifteen programme participants receive six weeks of vocational floristry training, six weeks of prevocational skills training followed by work experience with a reputable florist in London supported by their volunteer mentor. Each programme cohort graduate at a ceremony in January.  

For the women with whom they work, the service is fully inclusive and non-discriminatory, maintaining respect for other world views and not passing judgement. All beneficiaries, regardless of the faith background are treated equally and with wholehearted dignity and respect. 

Julie outlines: “Our workshops are full of laughter and fun, and the women talk, share and support one another. Relationships of trust are built and this helps individuals find community, sometimes for the first time in years, and address the loneliness that often accompanies their trauma.”  

Once women graduate from the programme they can continue to engage via Strength & Stem’s alumni network. These gatherings are a place where they can be accepted as themselves without having to endlessly re-tell their stories. Strength & Stem has a Survivors Advisory Board where graduates from the programme can inform the ongoing strategy of the organisation.  

To help fund the charity, Strength & Stem organises flower-arranging workshops, Christmas Wreath Workshops and floral services to corporate events and celebrations. This is a strategic and effective fundraising tool for the charity that complements our grant fundraising and individual giving.  

Strength & Stem sees the difference floristry makes to modern slavery survivors every day, but it knows the value of being able to formally measure this impact so that funders and other key stakeholders have confidence in the charity’s approach.  

Julie explains: “It is very important that we can demonstrate the true impact of our programmes so we have collected data against our theory of change criteria. We seek to achieve four key outcomes for and with women: wellbeing restored, relationships nurtured, agency strengthened and future secured.  

“Last year, 69 per cent of participants reported increased happiness, interest in life and life satisfaction. This is a significant achievement given participants’ complex starting points. Participants described personal breakthroughs, such as leaving the house independently, managing difficult emotions, or experiencing joy for the first time in years. Three quarters of participants reported feeling a greater sense of belonging in community. Ninety-three per cent of participants reported learning floristry skills, 91per cent reporting learning key financial and budgeting management skills and 67 per cent felt they had gained skills to strengthen their self-compassion and self-esteem.” 

Strength & Stem has big dreams for the future. It is planning a flower farm with a café – this will provide various employment opportunities for survivors. It also hopes to expand its programme to enable more women per year to participate. Last year, it published a toolkit to help the UK floristry industry (from florists to flower farmers, and everything in-between) consider and identify ways to support modern slavery survivors and the charity wants to continue this education element of its work. 

When asked about the secret to its success, Julie concludes: “Strength & Stem embodies the power of niche. We are super specialist and unique and that is why it works. We haven’t tried to offer skills training in every sector or create a programme that incorporates different arts and hobbies. We have just focused on floristry and the amazing impact of working with flowers.”