Sharon Stephens

Having found herself made redundant at the end of 2019 Sharon was very keen to pursue some voluntary work and joining the Next Chapter Board of Trustees as Treasurer fit the bill perfectly!

Sharon has a wealth of financial experience gained from working in central and local government at an operational and strategic level, a career she is very proud of. Sharon feels this experience can add real value to the Board of Trustees who collectively have a huge amount of varying experience and strengths, making for a great Board!

Sharon is a mum to 2 who are now all grown up and amazing adults and 1 adorable granddaughter! Sharon loves most sports and she can be seen jogging around Colchester, is partial to playing badminton or doing a Body Combat class at the gym!

Latest

Emma Regan
National Stalking Awareness Week 2021

A Stalker is someone who spends a lot of time thinking about how to Stalk someone. We describe this behaviour using the acronym FOUR; Fixed, Obsessed, Unwanted, and Repeated. Stalking is not ok, it’s illegal. If you have chosen to end a relationship, you do not deserve unwanted contact, or threats, or to have your ex-partner turn up uninvited or harass others in your life.
National Stalking Awareness Week - Jenny's Story

We can provide vital support to help victims of stalking, here at Next Chapter we have trained staff members that will help you every step of the way. Click here to read Jenny's story of stalking and how we were able to help her to now live a life free from stalking and domestic abuse.
Sharon Stephens

Emma Regan
Sarah Taylor
Holly Smart
Kay Caldwell - Interim Chair of Board
Karen Williams

Karen brings her extensive housing management, strategic knowledge of safeguarding and experience of improving support pathways for survivors of domestic abuse to our board.

How does domestic abuse differ in other cultures?

The actions of individuals are influenced by the norms, values, language, and other cultural factors that are like the dust in the air that surrounds everyone. These cultural factors are ingrained in us from the day we are born, and can play a role in either ending or perpetuating domestic abuse.
Our Services

We work with survivors of domestic abuse to help them make choices to reclaim their lives and begin their next chapter.
What is it really like in refuge?

Our clients do understand what it’s like to be in this situation and often try to look after each other, Many of our clients become good friends and stay in touch after they leave.
Ask for ANI scheme

This is a new scheme created by the government to try and help victims of domestic abuse in lockdown. ANI stands for 'Action Needed Immediately' and if asked to a member of staff in a pharmacy, help will be given.
How to move forward from loss and grief

These are all perfectly natural feelings and reactions to loss and grief and some may even compare it to a bereavement. Even if you don’t feel that way at all you may have been left feeling empty and confused or angry. We might constantly be bargaining with ourselves still or find that depression has taken over. We all deal with loss in our own individual ways and this is what makes each of us so unique. This is perfectly normal too.
The Role of an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor

So, imagine for a moment that you’ve summoned up the courage to finally leave, you’re feeling vulnerable and afraid and understandably really nervous about what the future might hold –you have to try and find your way through all that…. that's if you even knew half of it existed in the first place or where and how to start to getting in touch with them… So that's where we IDVA’S come in.
Professional referrals

Use this full referral form to access services
Mission, Vision & Values

Find out what gets us up every morning and keeps us delivering the very best advice & support that we can, each & every time.
My abuser has given me…. Trauma Bonding

Jane struggled to understand why it happened to her, what was wrong with her and how to break the emotional ties to her abuser. Sharing a child with Toni made it even more difficult as he would often accuse her of preventing him from being a father as a further way to manipulate her and play on her emotions. Jane has found herself torn between being told not to go back for her safety and the safety of her child and feelings of love and the believe that she needs to help Toni.
Why doesn't she just leave??

Understanding the reasons and the countless barriers that stand in the way for any woman who is attempting to leave an abusive relationship is the important part. We will never just ask a woman to leave, we empower women to make their own decisions in an attempt to hold abusers to account for their behaviour.