Stretton Clothing has been involved in charitable endeavors since its inception in 1992. As a successful business, Annah Stretton was keen to pay it forward and sought to align with charitable initiatives that were important to her customers. In 2013, wanting to be more specific and targeted in her contributions and ensure that money was directed to those most in need, she established the Stretton Foundation.
A chance meeting with Roni Albert, the CEO of Waikato Womenβs Refuge, changed the focus of Stretton Clothing's social endeavors. Annah agreed to support the Refuge by assisting with their governance structure and events. She found herself immersed in a world of Maoridom and pain. Recognizing that the Refuge model was rooted in crisis care, she began conceptualising a change model, RAW (Reclaim Another Woman), with her sister Rebecca, who had 25 years of experience in mental health. This model focused on assisting marginalised women in positively self-determining their futures.
RAW became particularly well-suited to New Zealand women's prisons, where they connected with a diverse group of women who were open to the idea of change, despite it being a significant deviation from their criminal norms. Today, RAW has supported over 90 women and is recognised as one of Corrections' most successful out-of-gate organizations for high and complex recidivist wahine.
To further support this mahi, Annah completed her Master's in Social Policy and MΔori and Indigenous Studies at Waikato University. This has helped RAW to reframe its objectives, prioritising the voices of the incarcerated to offer solutions for successful reintegration.
