WISHED PROJECT

​Wished Story

The Women in Sunderland Hope, Education and Development (WISHED) project was led by The Barn at Easington and commissioned by Sunderland City Council. Delivered in partnership with WWIN Domestic Abuse Services, Change Grow Live (Wear Recovery) and Sunderland Housing Options, WISHED was a year-long pilot programme for women experiencing multiple, enduring and overlapping unmet needs, including trauma, addiction, domestic abuse and insecure housing.

Taking place in the calm, nature-based environment of The Barn at Easington, WISHED combined creativity, nature, community and relational support. The evaluation found that The Barn was not simply a venue, but a key part of what made the programme effective by creating the conditions for trust, safety, reflection and connection.

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Who the Project Supported

Twenty women participated in WISHED across three phases of delivery during 2025-2026. Many were experiencing:

• Trauma and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

• Addiction and recovery challenges

• Homelessness or insecure housing

• Social isolation

• Multiple, enduring and overlapping unmet needs

• Difficulties engaging with mainstream services

• Many had not been effectively supported by existing systems before joining the programme.

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What Changed for Women?

The evaluation found clear and consistent improvements in women's:

• Wellbeing

• Confidence and self-worth

• Emotional stability

• Social connection

• Hope and optimism about the future​

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Women frequently described WISHED as a:

• Safe space"       "Safe haven"   "Lifeline

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Beyond Individual Outcomes
WISHED was more than a programme for women. It also became a catalyst for learning across
services, commissioners and partner organisations.
The evaluation found that WISHED helped strengthen:

•  Trauma-responsive practice

•  Women-specific support

•  Partnership working

•  Compassionate professionalism

•  Understanding of women´s experiences of trauma and disadvantage

Partners described the programme as influencing thinking about service delivery, commissioning
and future system design.

Why WISHED Matters
The evaluation concluded that WISHED is not only an effective intervention for women, but a
model for wider system change. It generated an estimated £4-£7 of social value for every £1
invested and demonstrated how relational, trauma-responsive, nature-based approaches can
improve outcomes for women whilst potentially reducing long-term pressure on public services.

Read the WISHED Evaluation Report here

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