SOUTHALL BLACK SISTERS TRUST 

London Holistic Advocacy Wrap Around Service

London Holistic Advocacy Wrap Around Service

The existing digital divide (amplifying inequalities in access to opportunities, knowledge, services) has been brought into sharper focus during the pandemic. 58% of non-internet users are women ....more

The existing digital divide (amplifying inequalities in access to opportunities, knowledge, services) has been brought into sharper focus during the pandemic. 58% of non-internet users are women (disproportionately BME), with 61% having zero digital skills (ONS 2019). 20-30% of our users do not have access to a smartphone. As a by-and-for-led specialist charity, when community/drop-in routes to safety became unavailable, we had to completely overhaul and adapt every aspect of our services to ensure access to safety and support for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged users (particularly those with overlapping vulnerabilities, poor digital competencies/IT skills, disabilities, insecure immigration, language barriers). We continue to face significant operational and resourcing challenges in digitally upscaling our service model, with fundraising falling short of budgetary needs, most critical of which are: (a) improved digital data collection/MEL returns framework corresponding with an improved CRM system. Due to exponential rise in demand existing data collection systems are ineffective and redundant. We need to urgently shift away from manual to automated data collection and reporting that can withstand pressures of high caseload numbers; (b) upgrading hardware to support mass scale remote working and purchasing equipment for staff who wish to continue working from home even after planned return to work measures are implemented. This is critical to ensuring continued staff well-being and productivity following a most challenging year for the sector. Equipment for users continues to remain a priority as remote group sessions have proved more successful in engaging women than in-person sessions, due to flexible timings and savings made on childcare and travel costs; (c) remodelling our website and improving digital outreach. Our online referral routes including website, webchat and social media channels have served as a critical alternate route to support in absence of walk-in appointments, with demographics traditionally not served by SBS reaching out to us.

Using co-production/collaborative approach the project delivers bespoke holistic support to NRPF VAWG survivors that best addresses their multiple/intersecting needs and re-engineer/co-opt models ....more

Using co-production/collaborative approach the project delivers bespoke holistic support to NRPF VAWG survivors that best addresses their multiple/intersecting needs and re-engineer/co-opt models operational regionally/locally with the aim of increasing access to and levels of support provision through sharing/optimising existing resources/learning

Change the Narrative & Evidence the Prevalence and Impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds Rule on Migrant BME Women Facing Gender Based Violence in the UK ?it?s all just too crippling, I ....more

Change the Narrative & Evidence the Prevalence and Impact of the No Recourse to Public Funds Rule on Migrant BME Women Facing Gender Based Violence in the UK ?it?s all just too crippling, I have no recourse to funds... it?s all still emotionally daunting. The government says ?alone, together? but some of us, including, myself, feel that society has forgotten us. The government has forgotten vulnerable women.? Survivor Testimony, House of Lords, June 2020 Southall Black Sisters (SBS) has been supporting and campaigning for the rights of BME women and children for over 4 decades, our work has always been focused on the rights of migrant women and children, particularly those with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). We have been at the forefront of the struggle to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the UK, raising public and social awareness around women?s rights whilst ensuring that we amplify the voices of survivors. We urgently need support to challenge and end the widespread violation of NRPF women?s rights which puts women at risk of violence, abuse and death. The Change Makers grant would address this by: ? Qualifying the Evidence: Production of reflective national NRPF data and the BME women?s sector?s first Social Value/Economic Gains Model in 3 areas; Advocacy, Mental Health and Accommodation; ? Shifting the Narrative: Amplification of the voice of NRPF survivors through the centralized inclusion of Women?s Voices and ?storywork methodology? to inform campaigning, policy and models of change; ? Strengthening Networks: Improved national networks from diverse community engagement through to local authority partnerships and commissioners via regionalized networks led by the national partnership; ? Sustaining Solutions: Building capacity and resources, activating policy change, embedded knowledge networks and socio-political/cultural shifts to positively influence legislation and higher level strategic decision making locally, regionally and nationally.

The Purpose of the Scheme, is to provide a support net for migrant victims of domestic abuse, who do not have access to public funds and, as a result of these restrictions, are unable to access safe ....more

The Purpose of the Scheme, is to provide a support net for migrant victims of domestic abuse, who do not have access to public funds and, as a result of these restrictions, are unable to access safe accommodation in order to escape abusive relationships.As part of the Scheme, there will be an independent evaluation which will evaluate the implementation of the Scheme; this element will be going through a tendering process in due course. The organisation, delivering the Scheme, will be expected to provide anonymised statistical information to the research contractor, regarding the individuals who present, and, subsequently make use of the Scheme from their entry to exit point, in the form of monitoring information.Given both the Scheme and the independent evaluation go hand in hand we have updated this LA to cover both elements, however each part will be delivered by different organisations. We have completed the tendering process for the Scheme, however for the independent evaluation, the tendering process is imminent, and we will update this LA when details have been finalised/approved.

Providing a safety-net by extending complementary support to BME victim-survivors with NRPF to overcome disproportionate impact of dual pandemics, VAWG and covid-19. The support will complement ....more

Providing a safety-net by extending complementary support to BME victim-survivors with NRPF to overcome disproportionate impact of dual pandemics, VAWG and covid-19. The support will complement holistic advocacy offered by SBS and be tailored to meet needs identified as critical over winter. Please note that £1500 for 15 clients - one off voucher purchase for essential winter clothing is eligible, however the £10k for immigration application costs were ineligible and therefore are not included in this grant award.

Organisations providing services and support for vulnerable people, for which there will be increased demand as a result of the COVID-19 crisis

COVID19 Recovery funding

towards unrestricted core costs as a COVID-19 Fast Response grant

adapting our service due to Covid-19 crisis. It has impacted our work and our users, compelling us to make major change to the way we we deliver services particularly advocacy and counselling. We ....more

adapting our service due to Covid-19 crisis. It has impacted our work and our users, compelling us to make major change to the way we we deliver services particularly advocacy and counselling. We noted increased demand in existing users who are experiencing heightened forms of isolation/anxiety due to uncertainty. We strive to respond to their emerging needs while also adapting to remote working.

The funding will provide life saving supplies to our most vulnerable, marginalised and destitute users who are suffering a multitude of difficulties and barriers to access during COVID-19 outbreak. ....more

The funding will provide life saving supplies to our most vulnerable, marginalised and destitute users who are suffering a multitude of difficulties and barriers to access during COVID-19 outbreak. The funding shall be used to buy data plans and basic smartphones for those with mental health needs/isolated users and purchase food and medicine for vulnerable/poor/self-isolating users.

This is a joint arrangement with the FCO. The Forced Marriage Unit is a joint Home Office/FCO team and this grant is for one half of the arrangement. FCO has a separate grant agreement covering the ....more

This is a joint arrangement with the FCO. The Forced Marriage Unit is a joint Home Office/FCO team and this grant is for one half of the arrangement. FCO has a separate grant agreement covering the other half.The main purpose of this arrangement is to ensure that Southall Black Sisters Trust (SBST) supports the Forced Marriage Unit in its objective to aid the resettlement of forced marriage victims who are repatriated to the UK.

The purpose of this funding is to provide additional funds for DA charities to help them cope with the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic/lockdown; to enable them to continue to meet their usual ....more

The purpose of this funding is to provide additional funds for DA charities to help them cope with the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic/lockdown; to enable them to continue to meet their usual levels of demand, to keep pace with rising levels of demand during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and to remain solvent such that they can continue to provide support both during and after the pandemic. This will all help to safeguard victims of DA and provide essential emergency support to those affected by COVID-19.

This grant is intended to provide funding to organisations whose primary purpose is to improve the response to DA, either through providing support to victims who have experienced DA, or through ....more

This grant is intended to provide funding to organisations whose primary purpose is to improve the response to DA, either through providing support to victims who have experienced DA, or through providing support to front-line services, including other charitable organisations or the statutory sector, to better respond to victims.

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. ....more

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. Southall Black Sisters has successfully increased the safety of many BME women by improving their access to justice and support. This grant will continue the advocacy programme and fund a full-time Advocacy Worker, with focus on providing one-to-one support for survivors from black and minority ethnic communities. The women will be supported to exit unsafe situations as well as provided with much needed long-term support to help them rebuild their lives free from violence and abuse.

This is a joint arrangement with the FCO. The Forced Marriage Unit is a joint Home Office/FCO team and this grant is for one half of the arrangement. FCO has a separate grant agreement covering the ....more

This is a joint arrangement with the FCO. The Forced Marriage Unit is a joint Home Office/FCO team and this grant is for one half of the arrangement. FCO has a separate grant agreement covering the other half.The main purpose of this arrangement is to ensure that Southall Black Sisters Trust (SBST) supports the Forced Marriage Unit in its objective to aid the resettlement of forced marriage victims who are repatriated to the UK.

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. ....more

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. Southall Black Sisters has successfully increased the safety of many BME women by improving their access to justice and support. This grant will continue the advocacy programme and fund a full-time Advocacy Worker, with focus on providing one-to-one support for survivors from black and minority ethnic communities. The women will be supported to exit unsafe situations as well as provided with much needed long-term support to help them rebuild their lives free from violence and abuse.

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. ....more

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. Southall Black Sisters has successfully increased the safety of many BME women by improving their access to justice and support. This grant will continue the advocacy programme and fund a full-time Advocacy Worker, with focus on providing one-to-one support for survivors from black and minority ethnic communities. The women will be supported to exit unsafe situations as well as provided with much needed long-term support to help them rebuild their lives free from violence and abuse.

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. ....more

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. Southall Black Sisters has successfully increased the safety of many BME women by improving their access to justice and support. This grant will continue the advocacy programme and fund a full-time Advocacy Worker, with focus on providing one-to-one support for survivors from black and minority ethnic communities. The women will be supported to exit unsafe situations as well as provided with much needed long-term support to help them rebuild their lives free from violence and abuse.

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. ....more

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender-based violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. Southall Black Sisters has successfully increased the safety of many BME women by improving their access to justice and support. This grant will continue the advocacy programme and fund a full-time Advocacy Worker, with focus on providing one-to-one support for survivors from black and minority ethnic communities. The women will be supported to exit unsafe situations as well as provided with much needed long-term support to help them rebuild their lives free from violence and abuse.

Towards the salaries of the legal and policy officer and helpline advisor to tackle violence against black and minority ethnic women and girls.

£7,500 towards core costs

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include: religious/ cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language ....more

Black and minority ethnic women who experience gender violence can face barriers to accessing help. Challenges include: religious/ cultural pressures, sector cuts around legal aid, and language barriers. For three-decades Southall Black Sisters has successfully increased the levels of safety for these women and their access to justice in Ealing and across London.This grant will continue the organisation's advocacy programme and fund a full-time Advocate providing one-to-one support for survivors from black and minority ethnic communities. Funding will enable women who have suffered abuse to exit unsafe situations by tackling issues such as dowry abuse, overseas abandonment, safe housing and immigration/ asylum status.

£7,500 towards core costs

This funding will go towards the development of an existing project in West London providing specialist services to vulnerable BME women. The project aims to enable them to escape gender based ....more

This funding will go towards the development of an existing project in West London providing specialist services to vulnerable BME women. The project aims to enable them to escape gender based violence and overcome cultural and religious barriers related to domestic and sexual abuse, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, dowry abuse and honour based violence._x000B__x000B_

£7,500 towards core costs

Towards the domestic and sexual violence and harmful traditional practices project plus running costs.