About US
4Wings was initially set up to work with survivors of abuse or trauma but subsequently became more aware of a specific group of people who experienced trauma, but in addition to this suffered multiple other layers of oppression that further contributed to their marginalization and mental health difficulties. Most members of this group of asylum-seeking and refugee women had to risk their lives to flee their own country, suffer the loss of identity, home, and community, as well as discrimination and exclusion. Apart from this, waiting for an asylum decision or readjusting to a new country after receiving refugee status, can be an isolating and traumatic experience
We believe that whilst survivors do require counseling to come to terms with what they have experienced, in order to truly move on and reduce re-victimization, a forward-facing after-care service is needed. One that focuses on rebuilding self-esteem, increasing self-worth, enabling self-efficacy, options building for the next step in their lives and ultimately breaking the cycle of victimisation.
Our activities include personal growth coaching, support network (coffee mornings), drop-in sessions (to assist with job search, CV writing, mock interviews, etc), creative workshops (art, dance, drama, poetry, drumming), fitness and self-defense classes and mental health advocacy sessions.
OUR TEAM
Is 4Wings’ service director whose academic background includes studies in Sociology, Criminology and Communication (University of Liverpool). She has trained in Personal Development Coaching, Mindfulness, Family/Community Mediation and Mental Health Advocacy. Ciiku is also a qualified workshop facilitator and deliverer. One of the programmes she has designed and delivered is the WINGS Empowerment Programme- a ‘next steps’ forward-facing personal development course that inspires participants, many of who have traumatic pasts to discover their own strengths and be in charge of their future plans. Her personal experience was her drive to found 4Wings after she identified a gap in the aftercare service of abuse victims.
Email: c.sondergaard@4wings.co.uk
Marie-Claire is a 4Wings director and a Storytelling workshops facilitator. She was awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Liverpool John Moores University, has a Professional Studies Diploma in Psychopedagogy & Methodology, and an Extra-Mural Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling and Organisational Dynamics from Birkbeck, University of London. Marie-Claire is an experienced manager, a support worker with Level 5 in Leadership for Health and Social Care for Adults, and has trained in Mediation. She also has a Certificate in Making a Difference Across Cultures and Group relations on Role, Creativity, and Negotiation. Marie- Claire overcame trauma after surviving a Rwandan Genocide & has also experienced isolation and inequality linked to her personal immigration journey in the UK. Marie-Claire would like to specialize in Human Rights Law.