Brave Women Rising was created because I know—personally and professionally—how fast a mother’s life can unravel behind closed doors.

I spent years as a social worker, sitting across from women whose voices had been flattened by shame, fear, and the threat of losing their children. I saw how systems could help, but also how they could wound. I saw what happened when mothers were judged instead of supported, expected to perform strength while surviving impossible circumstances.

I also know something about surviving in my own right. I grew up with a mother who taught me that love could be conditional, cruel, painful at times, and humiliating. Later, I loved a man who proved her right—just in different ways. And while I haven’t lived through the most extreme forms of domestic abuse, I’ve learned firsthand that even so-called “lesser” forms of abuse can steal your sense of self.

Over time, I realised that too many mothers were searching for help in a system designed to scrutinise them rather than lift them up. And too many were trying to parent their children while barely surviving themselves.

That’s why Brave Women Rising is different.

This isn’t another service that hands you a leaflet and wishes you luck. This is a place where mothers can find:

• Practical tools: clear, step-by-step resources for safety planning, navigating social services, and protecting your rights.

• Real language: no jargon, no sugar-coating—just honest guidance you can actually use.

• Respect: your story is your own. You are not here to be judged, pitied, or fixed.

• Clarity and confidence: delivered without the constraints of the systems that once shackled me as a professional.

Because I’m no longer bound by policies that prioritise paperwork over people, I can tell you the truth—the hard truths that matter—and help you act on them. I can break down professional jargon without diluting its importance. I can share exactly what professionals look for, what they expect, and what can make all the difference for you and your children.

I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I do believe you deserve more than survival. You deserve clarity, courage, and the chance to rebuild your life on your own terms—and to show your children what love without fear looks like.

If you’re here, you’re already braver than you think. Now let’s dive into it…

- Rae Wilder