Meet Merry Hill’s Good Egg Winner, Katie! 22 May 2025

As part of our Easter EGGstravaganza, we gave our lovely community the chance to nominate a local Good Egg who deserves recognition for all their hard work.

After tough deliberation (and a tear or two), we came to a decision and awarded the wonderful Katie our inaugural award!

Within her nominations, she was called a “24/7 fundraiser and community volunteer who transforms lives”, due to her role in Black Country Women’s Aid, as well as running Random Acts of Kindness Dudley.

And beyond all this tireless work for two amazing causes, she’s been called a “fantastic wife, mother and human being” – and we couldn’t agree more!

This month, we managed to grab a moment in Katie’s very busy life to visit her at the Black Country Women’s Aid, to find out more about her story and what BCWA do for those in need.

Merry Hill: How did you come to work at Black Country Women’s Aid?

Katie: I came to work for Black Country Women’s Aid 4 years ago to support the fundraising team for one of their Christmas campaigns and I’m still here as the senior fundraising lead! Before this, I worked at a SEN school in Dudley.

MH: What does Black Country Women’s Aid do?

K: At Black Country Women’s Aid, next year we’ll be 40 years old, and we have been supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence, and helping them rebuild their lives. We provide accommodation and community service to the families that reach out.

As a fundraiser, I support with the vital items our families need when they walk through our doors; anything from food bank to clothing, sanitary wear or children’s toys. I also raise awareness of what we do here at BCWA, working with businesses, colleges, schools and the local community.

We also support men, as part of our Ask Marc service – anyone male can ring and self-refer for historical trauma and current abuse.

We offer a one door approach, so anybody that walks through our doors to seek help would only need to tell their story once.

MH: How do you fundraise?

K: There’s lots of ways you can fundraise for Black Country Women’s Aid – myself, I’m jumping 14,000ft on a skydive in the next couple of weeks, so if you fancy a challenge please get in touch!

We fundraise throughout the year with our campaigns, such as Cut Out Abuse, and we’re also fundraising for our 10 new refuge spaces as part of Key to a New Life campaign.

MH: What upcoming events do you have?

K: Every year we do our Bucket and Spade Appeal, giving every family in our accommodation services a memorable trip to the seaside.

Last year, we were really fortunate to take 3 coaches to a seaside resort, and we had lots of support to get bucket and spades, funds for the coaches, and money for fish, chips and donkey rides.

One of our biggest campaigns is Christmas, where we ‘Give the Gift That Lasts’, raising funds to support victims to access counselling, therapy dogs and holistic therapy.

Last year, we supported over 1800 families’ wish lists – they were all personalised, with children writing their own lists. We make Christmas magical!

MH: What is Random Acts of Kindness Dudley?

K: Alongside Black Country Women’s Aid, I run Random Acts of Kindness Dudley; this is a small community group that was developed over 5 years ago. In the peak of the pandemic it took off, and we support families who are not eligible for things such as food banks, so we provide items that make their lives better.

I’m really proud to say that we won the High Sheriff Award of the West Midlands 2025 for this community group!

MH: How did it feel to win The Good Egg award?

K: Obviously I was happy, pleased, overwhelmed, proud and slightly embarrassed at the same time! But it was really nice to be acknowledged for the work that I do, and what we do here as Black Country Women’s Aid.

I’m so proud to be a fundraiser; it’s nice to be noticed, the valuable work we give to our families within the Dudley area and surrounding Black Country.

MH: What would you say to someone who may be in a tough situation and need your help?

K: Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, at any age and from any walk of life. One in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, for men the figure is one in seven. That’s why Black Country Women’s Aid is here to help victims become survivors. We support women, men and children from all over our region to start new, safer lives.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone and we can help you. Please contact us by telephone, email, WhatsApp or text, through our website or by dropping by one of centres – whatever is safest and easiest for you.

We hope the hard work of Katie, the Black Country Women’s Aid and Random Acts of Kindness Dudley inspire you to help out where you can!