Our newly promoted IRIS Team project Lead Sam Lawton wrote a blog about her story and how she came to work in the VAWG sector.
My name is Sam, and I am currently the Project Lead for the Iris Project, covering Walsall and Wolverhampton. The IRIS project offers support to vulnerable women, that have been subjected to, or who are at risk of sexual exploitation, sexual violence, sex work and survival sex. We also have a Netreach team that offer support regarding online harms and tech abuse for issues such as intimate image abuse and revenge porn.
I’m a single parent to two children, a son aged 14 and a daughter aged 11. Juggling full time work and being a full-time single parent is very challenging and can be tough, especially during school holidays. I do not have family to support on my doorstep, as they live 45mins away. But my parents are selfless and go out of their way to do school runs when they can, and look after the children late at night so I can attend evening drop in-s etc… Changing Lives have also been amazing at allowing me to work with the flexibility required, to allow me to do both jobs successfully. This is something that I struggled to find with any other employers. This has empowered me so much and had such a positive impact on my life personally, as well as professionally.
I am a foodie and love eating out and trying new things. Food is a major topic of conversation in our office! I also fell in love with strength training about 18 months ago and train three times a week. I love my gym sessions, as in addition to the physical health benefits, it allows me to switch my brain off for a while. This has a massive impact on my mental health. I also have a love of tattoos and vintage fashion, and I have a crazy Frenchie called Maple.
I joined Changing Lives in November 2022 as a part time Community Connections worker and it was a complete change of career for me. Prior to this, I studied HND Hospitality Management at college and then went on to work as a restaurant manager for 10 years. When I became a mother, I decided that I needed to make a change, as the long, unsociable hours, did not compliment the family life that I wanted. When my first child was one year old, I started my own business making celebration cakes from home. This business was successful and continued to grow. After seven years of being self-employed, working from home, I took the plunge and opened my own coffee and cake shop in 2018. I was a single parent to two small children at this time. Due to an abusive relationship I had to flee and relocate to safeguard myself and my children, losing everything in the process. I re-located in 2020 and once settled, I restarted my cake business, only this time working at food festivals and farmers markets. After two years I started to re-evaluate my career and what I wanted to achieve in life; my children were also growing, and I realised I needed a challenge for myself. The abuse that I had suffered, and witnessed in the past became a catalyst in my decision making. I was fortunate to have experienced the support of an amazing IDVA in the past and felt that this was life changing. I wanted to establish a career where I could have such a positive impact on someone’s life too. Consequently, I began studying and gained a qualification in domestic abuse. I then began a job search. Eventually I came across the Community Connections job that was available at Changing Lives. This seemed a perfect fit as it was in a role that I felt could help make a difference in people’s lives, but also, I could utilise a lot of transferrable skills from my previous career. My application was successful! So, in November 2022 I began my new career.
A few weeks after my start date, I was also offered a second part time role as a female support worker too. So, I was then a full-time employee juggling two roles. I absolutely loved my job and was supported by the most amazing, empowering manager, Leanne and surrounded by a passionate and supportive team of ladies. Time flew by and I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience and developed many strong working relationships with other local agencies.
My Community Connections role involved recruiting and managing volunteers, working with potential peer mentors, networking with other local agencies and building professional relationships, with the aim of creating new opportunities, organising and facilitating new drop-in services and assisting in the management of the Midlands Facebook page. I also attended several multi agency meetings and became a member of a Midlands women’s Independent Advisory Group (IAG) that was started by West Midlands Police.
My second role as a support worker was facilitated by a sub-contract with a homeless charity, P3. This role involved supporting any vulnerable ladies that entered their service. Including developing risk assessments, support plans, one-to-one support, hosting drop-in’s and taking part in weekly outreach sessions.
Fast forward to late 2024 when an opportunity became available to apply for a new role as Project Lead; I jumped at the chance to apply. I felt after two years I was ready for a new challenge and the timing was perfect. I prepared a report, as requested as part of the interview process and undertook an interview with my line manager and Sarah, the head of VAWG at Changing Lives. I was informed of my success, just before the new year, so I had an extra reason to celebrate. I started my new role, after the Christmas break, on 6th January 2025. I’m now 6 weeks into my new role and I’m really enjoying it. The team have been very accepting and supportive of the promotion, as I knew they would be. Working with such a passionate and dedicated team is such an honour.
In my new role I have now had to take a step back from the support work and outreach sessions, although I still hold a small caseload. I am now involved in being on call for the team, during their evening outreach sessions, conducting monthly case management and staff meetings, staff one to ones and line managing the team on a day-to-day basis, with the support of Leanne. Leanne is now senior service manager and oversees all the sex work/sexual exploitation projects across Changing Lives, so she is travelling a lot.
I’m now having more involvement in meetings with other partners such as the PCC, UKHSA and Public Health. I’ve also been involved with some funding opportunities and have completed some funding bids, which is all new. I recently had my first successful bid and secured £1500 of funding for the project.
I’m really excited about my future within Changing Lives, and this new opportunity. I love to learn and be knowledgeable so I’m in my element with all the new training opportunities that becoming a manager has opened. I’m looking forward to getting more involved in every aspect of being a charitable organisation and what that involves. Everything related to ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is my ultimate passion so I’m also eager to continue and develop my involvement in this topic in every way that I can.
I’m so proud of myself and what I have achieved professionally and personally since joining Changing Lives. Back in 2019-2020 when my life was in a dark, uncertain place, I could never have imagined being where I am now. With the right support network, work ethic and passion anyone can succeed and be empowered to live the life that they imagine.
