Who We Are
Anchored In Hope is a Portsmouth-based charity supporting women who have left abusive relationships. We exist because we know that leaving is not the end of the journey, and that healing, understanding, and rebuilding life afterwards can feel overwhelming and isolating.
We believe that healing does not happen alone. Many women expect life after leaving to feel calm and safe, yet often find themselves facing new and unexpected challenges. The emotional and psychological impact of abuse is frequently only recognised once the relationship has ended. Our work is rooted in compassion, understanding, and the belief that every woman deserves support that meets her where she is.
Through small, supportive groups, trauma-informed programmes, and wellbeing workshops, we provide safe and confidential spaces where women can connect, be heard, and begin to heal at their own pace. Our support is shaped by lived experience, empathy, and hope.
At Anchored In Hope, we walk alongside women as they navigate life after leaving — helping them rebuild confidence, rediscover strength, and move forward with hope.
A message from our founder
I got married young and had two children. When my marriage ended, I found myself back at my parents’ house – alone, overwhelmed, and carrying trauma I didn’t yet have words for.
Even though I had a support network, I had never felt so isolated. I didn’t know how to explain what I had been through. I felt ashamed, as though I had failed, and carried a deep guilt for everything that had happened.
Now, a few years on, I realise how fortunate I was that I didn’t have to move away from my community, and that I was able to get through those dark days surrounded by people who loved me. But I know that’s not the case for many women.
That’s why I started Anchored in Hope. Because I know how heavy silence and self-blame can feel. And I know how powerful it is to sit with other women who truly understand.
Anchored in Hope is a peer support community – a safe, welcoming space where women can come together, share their stories without judgement, and rediscover strength, hope, and belonging.
If you’re reading this and you feel lost, please know you don’t have to go through it alone. We are here, waiting to walk alongside you.
With hope,
Rachel
