Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome around 40 guests to Yellow Door to celebrate the official launch of our new therapeutic garden. The event brought together funders, supporters, partners, community leaders and friends of Yellow Door, all of whom are valued supporters of our work and helped make the celebration such a special occasion.
Guests heard inspiring speeches from Satvir Kaur MP, Member of Parliament for Southampton Test and Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, the Lord Mayor of Southampton Cllr Pat Evemy, and CEO of Yellow Door Nicci. Together, they spoke about the importance of creating safe, therapeutic spaces that support recovery, wellbeing and healing, and highlighted the life-changing work that Yellow Door delivers every day for people affected by domestic and sexual abuse across Southampton and Hampshire. The Lord Mayor also formally opened the garden by cutting the ribbon, marking a special moment in the celebration.
Satvir Kaur MP, Member of Parliament for Southampton Test and Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said “As someone who grew up on the same road as the original ‘yellow door’, where work started forty years ago, it’s been wonderful to support this incredible local charity as it has grown and become an important part of our city. The work they do to support women and girls is exceptional, and their new outdoor space is a beautiful addition to their service.
“Thank you to everyone involved in making this project a reality, it was an honour to help officially launch it. Tackling violence against women and girls is one of the biggest challenges of our time, and it is everyone’s responsibility to help address it. Yellow Door is an invaluable asset to that cause, and a credit to Southampton.”
The afternoon provided an opportunity for guests to explore the garden, connect with one another and learn more about how the space will be used. Designed to complement our counselling and therapeutic services, the garden offers a calm, welcoming environment where adults, families, young people and children can reflect, connect with nature and benefit from the outdoor therapeutic activities. We were also treated to a wonderful musical performance from local ukulele band Uke Box Glory, longtime supporters of Yellow Door, whose music added to the warm and celebratory atmosphere.
A special thank you goes to our funders, the Wolfson Foundation, Help to Create Hope Trust, and the Bernard Sunley Foundation, whose generosity made the development of the therapeutic garden possible. Their support has enabled us to create a safe and welcoming outdoor space that will benefit people accessing Yellow Door’s services for many years to come. We are also grateful to the many donors, supporters, volunteers and partners whose encouragement and commitment helped bring this vision to life.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended and helped us celebrate this important milestone. The launch marked not only the opening of a beautiful new garden, but also a celebration of the collaboration, generosity and shared commitment that make Yellow Door’s work possible. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this space will have on the thousands of children, young people and adults who access our services in the years ahead.
Nicci, Chief Executive Officer at Yellow Door, said “We know that recovery looks different for every person. Creating spaces that feel safe, inclusive and supportive is an important part of helping people rebuild their lives. The launch of our garden is a very special moment for Yellow Door and a wonderful new space for our therapists and practitioners to share with their clients. Thank you to everyone that attended.”
