Jeanie Lynch, Head of Service for CoLab Women, reflects on decades of community work and what it means to build trust, safety, and hope in Exeter.

We discuss:

• Her early activism in the 1980s Exeter women’s movement and her journey back to the city.
• The origins of CoLab Exeter and how it evolved into a multi-agency support hub.
• Founding Resilient Women, now CoLab Women, a programme helping women rebuild their lives after trauma, homelessness, or the justice system.
• A relationship-based model focused on “what’s strong, not what’s wrong.”
• The new Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance and innovative recovery programmes tailored to each woman’s pace.
• How creativity, art, and belonging underpin recovery.

Resources & Links

• CoLab Exeter
• Devon Domestic Abuse Alliance
• Julian House Devon & Cornwall