A film celebrating the 50th anniversary of Staffordshire Women's Aid has been nominated in the Smiley Charity Film Awards.  

Created with funding from the Santander Foundation and the help of the Media Trust, the film showcases the assistance and support the charity has offered to women and children in the community over the past five decades.

CEO of Staffordshire Women's Aid, Charlotte Almond, said: "I knew when this opportunity came that this was something really quite unique for us.

"As a local charity we would never have the funds or the contacts to produce a film and certainly not a film of such high quality."

Since 1976, the charity has been providing refuge, counselling and practical help to victims of domestic and sexual abuse.

In 2025, the Staffordshire Women's Aid helpline received over 2,000 calls.

Produced by female-led company Tinker Taylor, the film explores the experiences of women during key historical events such as the 1980s miners' strikes and the millennium celebrations.

The charity was set up by a group of local women who wanted to create a safe space for families escaping violence.

advertisement

Stigma and prejudice in the 1970s made it difficult to find a base for the refuge; however the founders fought on and eventually convinced the council to provide them with a small flat in Stafford town centre.

Charlotte said: "For me, the film is a tribute to the women who founded us. 

"It is a tribute to the hundreds of women who have worked or volunteered or supported our work over the last 50 years. 

"It's a tribute to all those community groups who've supported us.

"We are so fortunate that so many local groups, churches, WIs, and local businesses support our work. 

"It's a tribute to them because without them we wouldn't be here.

"But most of all, it's a tribute to the women and children who've accessed our services, who've shared their stories, who have been so courageous to leave and access support."

Follow the link to vote for your favourite film (voting closes 23 April).

If you have been affected by domestic or sexual violence and abuse call 0300 330 5959 or click the link.