News & Campaigns

All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

FORWARD wins award

FORWARD is delighted to have won a Charity Award for our work on female genital mutilation (FGM) in schools. We won an award in the Healthcare and Medical Research Category.

FORWARD’s Executive Director Naana Otoo-Oyortey who collected the award at last weeks ceremony along with our Schools Programme Co-ordinator, Vanessa Diakides, noted that “”We have been here for 30 years…And this is recognition of our tireless efforts to get FGM put on the national agenda“.

http://www.forwarduk.org.uk/forward-wins-charity-award/

Read also http://www.charityawards.co.uk/winners2015/#tab-1434035539603-11-8

June 30, 2015

Poverty in the UK: the need for a gender perspective – A briefing paper from the UK Women’s Budget Group

Poverty in the UK will only b e tackled successfully if gender is taken into account more thoroughly and comprehensively. Tackling poverty is in turn an essential component of the equitable and caring economy called for consistently by the Women’s Budget Group (WBG) . This briefing paper is based on a report on gender and poverty written for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (see note on p6)

Download the briefing paper from http://wbg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Gender-and-Poverty-Briefing-June-2015.pdf

June 30, 2015

New Centre – Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex (RCSAS)

We are delighted today to announce the opening of a new Rape Crisis Centre based in Crawley, West Sussex

As part of the Ministry of Justice’s ongoing commitment to expand specialist Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) organisations across the country, we are delighted to announce the opening of Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex (RCSAS) on the 26th of June, 2015, in Crawley, West Sussex. A member of the established VAWG organisation Rape Crisis (England and Wales), RCSAS is an independent support hub set up by the team behind Rape Crisis London’s flagship centre, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) in South London.

Yvonne Traynor our CEO, explains, “The RCSAS Crawley centre exists to fill the gaps existing in the current survivor support network in Surrey and Sussex. It aims to bring expert services to any female survivors of sexual abuse in the local area – including those hard-to-reach-groups.”

Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex is an anonymous, woman-only centre offering female survivors of sexual abuse access to specialised counselling; and an independent advocacy program as well as an outreach service and educational bracket providing accredited training on rape and childhood sexual abuse including on-demand training for counsellors, schools and other organisations.

“As a member of Rape Crisis (England and Wales), RCSAS adheres to their occupational standards of service delivery,” continues Traynor. “As such the centre is already a British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Accredited Counselling Centre. We have employed a team of trained female counsellors all of whom are experienced in working with survivors of sexual violence. The service offers one-to-one and group therapy sessions that can last up to a year”.

In addition, the centre’s advocacy service will support women thinking of reporting abuse to the police and those who are currently engaged with the criminal justice system. The centre’s outreach service will provide support for hard-to-reach women such as those living within the travelling community, women of certain ethnic minorities and women working in the sex industry.

“Survivors are at the heart of what we do,” says Traynor. “We listen, we believe and we are non-judgmental. Expanding our services is an attempt to make sure all survivors’ needs are catered for.”
As part of the RCSAS expansion the centre will be extending the National Rape Crisis Helpline which provides indispensable emotional support for women and girls who have survived sexual violence.
The helpline, 0808 802 9999, is open 365 days a year from 12 to 2.30pm and 7.00 to 9.30pm.

Contact details for Rape Crisis Surrey & Sussex are:
 Helpline: 0808 802 9999
 Office Number (for Admin/Counselling/Advocacy): 01293 538477
 Office Fax: 01293 279956
 Postal Address: PO Box 1265, Crawley RH10 0JY
 Email: info@rcsas.org.uk.

The street address for the location of Rape Crisis Surrey and Sussex is confidential to protect the anonymity of our clients and staff. We are based in Crawley. Please note we do not provide emotional support via email as we do not believe this to be a confidential means of communicating. For confidential, free support please contact our helpline.

http://www.rasasc.org.uk/?page_id=1078

June 30, 2015

25 July 2015 14:00 ~ Raising voices of African Diaspora Women – Forward – London

Until 6.30 pm at Impact Hub Westminster, 1st Floor, New Zealand House, 80 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4TE

Showcasing Diaspora Engagement in Development in Africa and UK

This event will provide an opportunity for members of the African diaspora to reflect on the challenges and progress on human rights and development for African women and girls. The day will also explore the contribution of women in the African Diaspora on issues relating to gender and human rights in the Diaspora and on the African continent.

All attendees are also invited to stay for live music, drinks and networking at the end of the day up to 8pm.

The Role of the Diaspora

The ‘here and there’ position of diaspora organisations and individuals, and diaspora energies and commitment gives the African Diaspora a unique position to help realise the goals of the African Women’s Decade.

Diaspora organisations and individuals have been key players in advocating for human rights and sustainable development in their countries of origin, and according to the World Bank, diaspora remittances to sub-Saharan Africa totalled nearly $33 billion in 2014. This event seeks to highlight the contribution of African women to the development of the continent regardless of their location.

The event will include music, a key note speech from Ngone Diop of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and speakers from FORWARD, Ekanem Robertson of BEN TV, Faith Mwangi-Powell of The Girl Generation and Leyla Hussein as well as representatives from the following organisations: Mifumi, African Foundation for Development (AFFORD), Haayat Women’s Trust and Gender Education and Enterprise Development for Africa (GEEDA).

We hope that this event will enable African women in the diaspora to share their experiences of international development work supporting social change in their countries of origin as well as being an opportunity to network and share lessons and experience.

Please RSVP to register your attendance at the event by email: forwardevents@forwarduk.org.uk

Details of the event can also be found on our website at: www.forwarduk.org.uk/events

June 30, 2015

Friday 9 October 2015 9.30 ~ Safeguarding : Challenging Attitudes And Opening Minds – SI Yorkshire Anti Slavery Group – Leeds

Until 4.00pm at Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa, 1150 Century Way, Thorpe Park, Leeds, LS15 8ZB £45.00 to include parking, lunch and refreshments

Soroptimist International (SI) is a global organisation for women working in partnership with other organisations to improve the status and uphold the rights of women and girls. It has General Consultative Status at the UN and is represented at all the major UN centres.

A key concern for us all is that sexual exploitation is becoming normalised. Further to SI Yorkshire Anti-Slavery Group’s two successful conferences on grooming and safeguarding against sexual exploitation, our third in October will look at changing the mindsets – the attitudes and stereotypes – that underpin this disturbing behaviour. Only by changing the way people think can we hope to change their behaviour.

We believe we’ve put together a very informative, hard hitting programme. Our speakers and presenters have been invited because of their expertise and work in the field of sexual exploitation and gender stereotyping:

And under the artistic direction of Steve Archer, young people from St Mary’s Youth Theatre, Garforth will demonstrate how gender stereotyping feeds into violent behaviour.

Please join us, to learn and share your ideas about how to challenge destructive mindsets and nip sexual exploitation in the bud, before any damage is done. You will be well fed and watered with unlimited refreshments and a two course lunch – and you can park your car for free!

Please scroll down for booking details. Further information will be sent on confirmation of your booking. We look forward to seeing you.

Val Michie, Chair SI Yorkshire ASG – valmichie@btinternet.com

DELEGATE BOOKING DETAILS

Please complete one booking per delegate and send to:
Mrs Julie Thompson, 86 Branstone Grove, Gawthorpe, Ossett, WF5 9SU /

Your contact details
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
email:

Company/organisation contact details (if appropriate)
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
email:

Payment details
Please pay by either BACS/bank transfer:  
Account name:   SI Yorkshire – General Account
Account no:     00509329
Sort code:      20-48-46
Reference: ASG
Or Cheque, made out to SI Yorkshire and send to the address above.

How are you paying?   BACS/bank transfer?    Cheque?   (Please circle as appropriate)

Address/email address to where confirmation of acceptance is to be sent:

The closing date for bookings is Friday 18 September. We cannot take bookings after this date.

Once your payment has been received you will be notified that you have been accepted as a delegate and sent further information regarding the venue, catering, overnight accommodation, etc.

See also: http://www.womensgrid.org.uk/groups/?p=3100

June 29, 2015