A County Durham charity supporting female survivors of domestic abuse and through mental health battles is going from strength to strength.
It's now been three years since 37-year-old Amy Turner and Carrie Howarth from Newton Aycliffe together set up Sisters Of Support - a peer support group for women across the region.
Amy, who says she is a survivor of abuse, wondered why there isn't more support for women in similar circumstances - and so, alongside Carrie, decided to set up their own charity.
Now, the group boasts 50 members and holds bi-weekly get togethers with the sole aim of offering women support where they say there is none.
Amy told The Northern Echo: "Other services, they step in for a short amount of time but then they're done with you. Otherwise, you have to wait 18 months for mental health services.
"I told my friend (Carrie) that I wouldn't have survived without her - but then asked the question what if we could do for other people what she has done for me?
"If we could provide that support on a peer level to give people support or a bridge, a break from loneliness. Then, within 24 hours we had Sisters of Support set up and a week later we held our first meeting.
"It has been such a whirlwind."
One sticking point for Amy which she emphasised is the different ways in which men and women are treated in regard to their mental health.
For her, it's blatant - and it her charity hopes to turn the tide.
She added: "We have made something positive out of something terrible. We want to show people that if you have others around you you can get through anything.
"When we started it, we noticed that men's mental health was really being pushed - and there was a massive gap for women.
"It's assumed that women talk to each other and gossip, that we talk about mental health. When was the last time you spoke to your friends about your mental health.
"We don't - because women have already had to fight to have a place in society for generations to be seen as equals. So, we bury it deep down.
"But, when men are struggling we are really supportive - there is such a disparity for women."
For anyone who would like to attend one of the meetings or receive support from the group, Amy has urged them to take the leap.
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She said: "I would say that anyone who comes along can take as much time as they need when they get there.
"The hardest thing is walking through that door for the first time - we will help you and walk in with you."
To find out more about Sisters of Support, click here.
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