WAITS News & Updates

Report from WAITS Change the System Conference (Feb 2025)

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:26:34 GMT

source: WAITS

published: February 2025

Image Credits: WAITS Charity

On Wednesday the 19th February, our Change the System Conference was held in collaboration with Birmingham City University. The event was designed with the purpose of not only amplifying the voice of domestic abuse (DA) survivors, but of utilising their expertise, alongside that of key stakeholders, to contrive genuine solutions to change the system.

Four main issues surrounding DA were identified by our SEEKERS Board including: the court and justice system, housing and refuge, police response, and social services. All four themes served as a basis for discussions throughout the day including presentations by key stakeholders such as Councillor Kindy Sandhu, Tony Hopkins, and Nikki Plummer.

'February 2025 Conference'

“The SEEKERS Board eloquently provided present changemakers with possible solutions to the issues at hand"

Moreover, SEEKERS Board members Rebecca Beard, Uzma Akhtar, and Amarah Feroza, not only outlined their lived experience, but eloquently provided present changemakers with possible solutions to the issues at hand. The collaboration between such a large range of opinions, backgrounds, and experiences, was absolutely invaluable, and in many ways, essential when dealing with such a dynamic and complex social issue as domestic abuse.

On behalf of WAITS, we would like to say one last thank you to Claudia Gonzalez, the Community Organising Lead, and to Professor Laura Hammond from Birmingham City University, for organising such a fabulous event.

Thank you to all those who attended the event, but most importantly, thank you to those who listened. Thank you to those who truly heard the voice of survivors, and their proposed solutions. Thank you to those who will ensure their solutions are implemented. Thank you to those who, alongside WAITS, will once and for all change the system!

Case Study: A refuge success story

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:25:43 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: February 2025

Image Credit: Hassan Ouajbir at www.Pexels.com

“Before I moved into WAITS refuge, I felt overwhelmed and clueless because no one had ever explained what a refuge was. I hadn’t heard of it before.”

From saying this, to speaking in front of a mass audience at a Domestic Abuse conference. This is the story of our next #WAITSWomanOfTheMonth, Fabulous Francis.

(Names for case studies are changed for confidentiality purposes)

At the start of her journey, Francis had felt all alone. As a British Muslim woman in an abusive marriage for 12 years, she found it difficult to leave the only life she had ever known. But she did. She escaped her abuser and was going to be on her own for the first time. With the guidance of her support worker, she was able to start her new life in WAITS Refuge.

Our workshops helped her believe in herself again. Fabulous Francis made new friends, regained her self-confidence and fought for change. She joined the SEEKERS Board , a change-makers group of domestic abuse survivors, and spoke publicly about her struggles to raise awareness.

Her next goal was to divorce her abuser, but that proved to be quite complex as she had no access to legal aid. “I felt like I was being punished again for wanting my freedom and to rebuild my life,” she explained. Fortunately, Francis and her support worker persevered and won a divorce settlement which helped her get her own house.

“I will be entering my own home using the front door key, without being fearful of what argument may happen when the door closes behind me. That is not something to take for granted anymore.”

Now Fabulous Francis looks forward to advocating for change for Domestic Abuse survivors. She said, “I will continue working with WAITS through my role in the SEEKERS Board. I want to give other victims of domestic abuse hope, courage and inspire them.”

Francis is more than just a lady who has been through Domestic Abuse. She looked for the light at the end of the tunnel without knowing that she was going to light up the path for so many others.

WAITS is planning the opening of a new refuge in April

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:03:35 GMT

source: WAITS

published: February 2025

Image Credits: Pexels/Duda

The demand for safe accommodation in Birmingham is rising at an alarming rate. Domestic Abuse is now the cause of 1 in 6 homeless presentations in the city, leaving many women with an impossible choice - homelessness or danger. No woman should ever have to choose between having nowhere to go and staying in an abusive environment.

At WAITS, we refuse to let women face this crisis alone. That’s why we are opening a new refuge in April, a lifeline for women escaping abuse. Increasing our bed spaces will provide safe accommodation and holistic, person-centred support to help survivors rebuild their lives.

Our refuges offer more than just a roof over a woman’s head. We provide specialist advocacy, access to housing, legal support and financial stability, therapeutic workshops, counselling services and employability training.

We need to raise £10,000

"We need your support to make this new refuge a reality, and to open our doors and provide lifesaving accommodation and support to women"

We need urgent support to make this new refuge a reality.

We must raise £10,000 to open our doors and provide lifesaving accommodation and support.

Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Together, we can offer women a new beginning free from fear and full of hope.

Donate today and help us give survivors the safety and support they need.

Get in touch via waitsaction.enquiries@gmail.com to find out more.

Announcement: WAITS Weekend Retreat and Sister Circle

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:21:11 GMT

source: WAITS

published: February 2025

Image Credit: Pexels/Duda

In the rush of daily life, true rest often takes a backseat. But real rejuvenation goes beyond just sleep - it’s about restoring your mind, body, and soul. This is what sacred rest is all about: creating a protected space for dedicated downtime, growth, and renewal.

Join us for a transformative women’s retreat designed to help you step into Spring 2025 feeling recharged, empowered, and deeply restored.

When: 4th to 6th April 2025

Where: Forest of Arden, Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, Birmingham CV7 7HR

Cost: £580 for the whole weekend. Single day tickets available ( get in touch with us )

'Recharging the Batteries'

A full weekend of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative, social and sensory rest.

What to expect from the workshops:

Physical Rest: Spa facilities and gentle movement to rejuvenate your body
Mental Rest: Mindfulness and meditation to quiet your thoughts
Emotional Rest: Safe spaces to reflect, release, and reconnect with your emotions
Spiritual Rest: Engaging with how spiritually aligns you to your personal faith or values
Creative Rest: Time to be inspired and rediscover your passions
Social Rest: A community of supportive, like-minded women
Sensory Rest: Unplugging from noise, screens, and distractions

This retreat will be led by the incredible Dr. Obioma Martin, flying in from the USA. She is a highly acclaimed international speaker, transformational trainer, coach, advocate, and best-selling author. Dr Obioma will guide us through empowering workshops that will help you embrace a new you, with clarity and confidence.

This retreat is aimed at recharging your batteries and creating a new path for you - this is your time to reset. Limited spaces available!

Get in touch at support@waitsction.org or Click here to book

Masquerade Ball: Message from the Chair of WAITS Deirdre LaBassiere

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:10:39 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 31 October 2024

Image Credit : WAITS Charity

In October, we gathered for a truly magical evening at WAITS Masquerade Ball,�� where we celebrated 31 years of empowering women to reclaim their lives, especially Black and Global Majority women facing domestic abuse.

The symbolism of wearing masks was a reminder of the many layers we often wear to protect ourselves - yet, WAITS helps women remove those masks, find their true selves, and rise with dignity and strength in every sphere of life.

This celebration held special significance as we honour Black History Month, recognising the power, resilience, and contributions of the women we serve.

'Celebrating 31 Years of Empowering Women'

The WAITS Masquerade Ball

WAITS has been at the forefront of creating safe spaces for women to grow, heal, and take control of their futures, and last night was a beautiful reflection of that mission.��

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible WAITS team, our volunteers, ambassadors, SEEKERS Board, staff, trustees, and all of our supporters who make this work possible. We are stronger together.

Special thanks to John Simmit for his wonderful hosting, which brought joy and energy to the evenings proceedings.

Thank you also to the Lord Mayor Ken Wood and the Lady Mayoress, the High Sheriff of the West Midlands Doug Wright MBE, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, Alethea Fuller, Wade Lyn CBE CD and Janet Maye for being our distinguished guests.

And, of course, everyone of our esteemed guests who joined in celebrating and so kindly donated to helping us to help those that we serve - a hugely sincere thank you. You are all so incredible.❤️

Deirdre LaBassiere

Chair, Women Acting In Today’s Society (WAITS)

Report on the Ambassador Half Marathon run 2024

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:10:30 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 30 May 2023

Image Credit: Pexels/Duda

Congratulations are in order to our incredible ambassador, Shafeena Mustafa, for absolutely crushing a half marathon to support our charity! She has been dedicated, she has persevered, and she has remained passionate, pushing her all the way across the finish line, raising over £1,500 to support our cause.

“This achievement is EXTRAORDINARY and we can't wait to see what you'll conquer next. We are immensely proud of you, Shafeena, and grateful for your steadfast commitment to WAITS mission of eradicating domestic abuse. You exemplify the spirit and values of WAITS, and are an inspiration to many in their journey toward positive change. We couldn't be prouder to have you as part of our Ambassador’s team. Keep shining!” ✨

We also want to say thank you to all the generous sponsors who supported Shafeena on this remarkable journey, who have all demonstrated the power of community and collective action. It means the world to us!

Shafeena Mustafa

"We salute Shafeena, and are grateful for your steadfast commitment to WAITS mission of eradicating domestic abuse"

WAITS service delivery end of year figures & statistics

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:10:23 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 30 October 2024

Image Credit: StuartMiles at www.FreerangeStock.com

We are thrilled to share the incredible achievements we’ve made over the past year (2023-24) at WAITS.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished in the last 12 months:

Advocacy: We provided dedicated advocacy services to 67 women , helping them navigate complex challenges and secure their rights.

Refuge Support: We supported 32 women in our refuge and proudly opened a new facility, increasing our capacity to keep women safe from abuse.

Workshops: We hosted 39 transformative workshops, attended by 69 women . These sessions covered vital topics such as self-esteem, confidence, housing, mental health, wellbeing, and more.

'2023 - 2024 Statistics'

"We’ve helped our clients develop the skills and confidence to address their trauma, improve their mental and physical wellbeing and more"

Counselling: We delivered 146 hours of professional counselling , offering a safe space for women to heal and grow.

Befriending Support: Our volunteers provided 115 hours of befriending support , fostering connections and reducing isolation.

Helpline: Our helpline responded to 421 calls , offering advice and guidance to women in distress.

These achievements were made possible through collaborative working, the implementation of person-centred support plans, and our commitment to empowering women to achieve their personal goals. We’ve helped our clients develop the skills and confidence to address their trauma, improve their mental and physical wellbeing, navigate legal challenges, and rebuild their lives.

Behind every statistic is a woman, her children and the generations to come. Together, we are creating a legacy of freedom, empowerment and safety for women and families.

WAITS Away Days: Summer 2024

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 22:10:08 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 30 October 2024

Image Credit: WAITS Charity

Over the summer period, we held two Away Days, one for staff and one for trustees of WAITS.

For the staff, we wanted to show our appreciation for their fantastic work by treating them to a day of creativity, inspiration and relaxation.

The Staff Away Day workshops, facilitated by CEO Marcia Lewinson, took everyone on a journey of expressing WAITS values in their own unique way to see how they contribute to the culture of our charity as a combined team.

WAITS is incredibly proud to work with women of valour, determination and outstanding talent.

'Strategic Thinking'

Defining culture, and an understanding of our collective strengths to build a robust people strategy.

We also held a Trustee Away Day to create space for strategic thinking for the direction of WAITS.

The day was full of conversations about defining culture, understanding our collective strengths to build a robust people strategy, considering the right risk framework and innovative housing solutions to be explored.

Thank you so much to Barbara Armstrong OBE and Deirdre LaBassiere for facilitating such a powerful and impactful day. They managed to pack such significant themes into a single, productive day that was absolutely exceptional.

The amount we accomplished is a testament to their ability to guide the Board through complex discussions and creative brainstorms efficiently.

All of the strategic work culminated in a Joint Away Day in October with key internal stakeholders and WAITS representatives: trustees, staff, ambassadors and clients.

We prioritise relationship building across all functions and roles at WAITS, breaking down barriers and silo working. There was nothing but love, joy and authenticity in the room. Through the power of collaboration, we truly can achieve anything in our trajectory of empowering women.

We look forward to the continued improvement of the charity as a result of these catalyst events.

WAITS Statement on the Southport tragedy and disturbances

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 21:19:47 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 8 August 2024

Image Credit: Pexels/Duda

Women Acting In Today’s Society Statement

We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the three young girls tragically murdered in Southport. While such large-scale incidents are rare, violence against women and girls by men is an all-too-common reality. This tragedy epitomises the worst of a pervasive issue.

We must confront deep-rooted misogyny that fuels such violence, while resisting attempts by those with racist agendas to exploit our pain. We stand in solidarity with all communities and their families, particularly women and girls, who are experiencing heightened insecurity due to widespread racial and Islamophobic violence. Although the perpetrators are a minority, their hatred has profound and far-reaching consequences.

'Not in our Name'

"We stand in solidarity with all communities and their families"

The ongoing xenophobia against minoritised communities is intolerable.

The combination of this violence and the ongoing xenophobia against minoritised communities is intolerable. We recognise the fear that these riots have instilled and acknowledge that measures promoting a hostile environment, alongside harmful political rhetoric, have normalised racism and sexism in our country. Black and global majority women bear the brunt of government inaction and coordinated racial violence.

We unequivocally reject the notion that any of these actions stem from genuine concern for the safety of women and girls. Safety is not achieved nor promoted through racist violence. Together, we denounce it.

We stand united in our resistance and solidarity;

We stand united as women across all our communities.

We stand united and say, ‘Not in our name.’

Leadership Weekend: Empowering survivors of domestic abuse

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:59:04 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 24 June 2024

Image Credits : WAITS Charity

The Leadership Weekend was a transformative three-day conference dedicated to empowering survivors of domestic abuse by developing their leadership potential through a series of powerful workshops.

Held in the beautiful grounds at Conference Aston Hotel, the conference offered a safe and supportive environment where WAITS’ clients could rebuild their confidence, discover their strengths, and develop new skills necessary to become influential leaders in their communities.

Throughout the weekend, our clients engaged in a variety of workshops including understanding different concepts of power, how to define themselves in an Elevator Pitch, and why leadership is so important in 2024 .

'Leadership Weekend Conference'

Leadership Weekend Organisers

In addition, we want to give a huge thank you to guest speaker Ana Amona, who delivered a brilliant and informative workshop on Cultivating a Growth Mindset, and WAITS Chair of Ambassadors Dierdre LaBassiere who gave a powerful, emotional and incredibly inspiring talk on her own story as a strong female leader and survivor of domestic abuse.

One of the cornerstone workshops focused on personal empowerment, where clients were guided through exercises that had them recognise and harness their inner power. This session encouraged participants to identify their values, practise sharing their achievements and skills publicly, and create a positive vision for their future.

In fostering a sense of self-worth and resilience, this workshop laid down a foundation for effective female leadership.

The Leadership Weekend conference not only equipped survivors of domestic abuse with essential leadership skills, but also created a sense of community and mutual support for the clients.

By the end of the weekend, our clients left with renewed confidence, a network of supportive friends, and a clear path towards becoming leaders in their own lives and communities.

In empowering this extraordinary group of women, WAITS aims to create a cohort of strong, powerful, and influential women who can make meaningful change for other women and survivors of domestic abuse, transforming our society for good.

WAITS Consultancy Services and training workshops

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:58:52 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 24 June 2024

Image Credit : WAITS Charity

We are very proud to have successfully launched our consultancy services . We have had the opportunity to deliver Domestic Abuse Practice training to frontline and manager staff from Non Violantiam CIC and Second City , who support Birmingham’s most vulnerable adults by providing accommodation and housing.

The aim of the training was to develop processes and skills for risk assessing, the impact of domestic abuse. support versus empowerment, support planning and evidencing, boundaries and defining roles.

We are glad to receive excellent feedback from the delegates, giving the training an average score of over 90%. Thank you to Brewin Dolphin for hosting us so warmly for the training.

'Training Matters'

Click on the image above to view details of our first pilot domestic abuse awareness training event in April 2024.

WAITS was also invited by Eden Girl’s Leadership Academy to deliver a workshop on abuse awareness.

After the year 9 students researched the work we do in our local area, the students will now be raising awareness and fundraising on our behalf.

The year 9 students nominated WAITS for the First Give Programme, with the aim of carrying out social action, because they are passionate about amplifying the voices of women who experience domestic abuse.

We feel incredibly supported by our communities in Birmingham and look forward to the continued collaboration and opportunities the future will present.

New services: Community Integration and Employment Projects

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:58:48 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 24 June 2024

Image Credit : FreeRangeStock - Unsplash

We are very pleased to announce the expansion of our services since April 2024. Thanks to new funding from National Lottery, we have relaunched and expanded our Community Integration Project (CIP) with the aim to support 100 women per year with a background of offending, or at risk of offending who have also experienced domestic abuse.

Without this intervention in place, many women released from prison relapse and re-enter harmful relationships and/or re-engage in coercive criminal activities; which often leads to reoffending or a prison sentence within 12 months or less of leaving prison.

'Dialouge Matters'

Click image for details of our related and recently launched SEEKERS Board

Without a resettlement intervention package in place they are more likely to reconnect with their coercive controlling ex-partners - influencers of past sobriety relapses often fuelled by domestic abuse and coercive criminal activities.

WAITS offers advocacy, practical support, counselling, access to housing, support regain child custody to break re-offending and domestic abuse cycles to women released from prison and those on probation dually affected by criminal coercion and domestic abuse.

We have match-funded this project with a Triangle Trust grant to support the same cohort of women to access employment through employability coaching and workshops. The Goals To Employment programme is a 10-week rolling programme, where participants are assigned a job coach and engage in training sessions to gain the confidence and skills to achieve their career aspirations.

Our employment coach will then match the skills of the recipient with agreed engaged external employment organisations. The WAITS’ employment coach will oversee the introductory meeting and ensure employee role, assigned tasks and key targets are agreed and implemented into a personalised employment training plan. The participants gain on the job work experience and gain financial independence to break the cycles of abuse and offending, enabling them to rebuild their lives .

Sister Circle: April 2024 event held

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:58:40 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 24 June 2024

Image Credit : WAITS Charity

We had a fantastic Sister Circle event at the end of April. A special thank you to Fay Goodman for being our brilliant guest speaker. The energy in the room was elating, and it was inspiring to see everyone coming together to support our cause in the city to empower women. It was a night full of powerful storytelling, delicious food, fruitful networking and even learning some practical self defence drills taught by Fay.

We are so excited that Arti Halai is coming to speak at our next Sister Circle event on the 16th of July. Arti is an Executive Coach, trainer and consultant specialising in confidence and communication with three decades of experience in tv presenting, media, and business.

'For Women, By Women'

Click on the image above to view details of our May 2023 event.

Arti spent more than a decade working as a television presenter, reporter and producer for the likes of the BBC and ITV. She covered global events like the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the 911 tragedy and General Elections.

For eight years Arti fronted ITV’s news across the Midlands, Central News. She ventured into the world of business and co-founded two successful businesses which she helped to grow .

Her book ‘Positivity’ was published by HotHive and she has a podcast ‘Five Star Insights.’ Arti is passionate about empowering and helping women and young adults on their journey to success.

Find out more and book your ticket ( Click here ).

It’s a membership group for women in business and women philanthropists who wish to give back to society in a meaningful way. By joining WAITS Sister Circle exclusive networking club for women, you will be supporting us to empower over 400 women and their children a year to flee abusive relationships, gain therapeutic support to overcome trauma and find have a safe home either in our refuge or their own homes.

International Women’s Day 2024

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:27:41 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 3 April 2024

Image Credit : FreeRangeStock - rawpixel

Women Acting in Today's Society (WAITS) was proud to have joined the global community in celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March 2024. This year's theme, ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ resonated deeply with our mission to amplify the voices of women from diverse backgrounds and champion their contributions to today's society.

International Women's Day was an opportunity to recognise the achievements of women around the world and to renew our commitment to gender equality.

At WAITS, we believe that true progress is only possible when all women are included and empowered to thrive.

As an organisation committed to empowering women and fostering positive change, WAITS recognises the invaluable contributions of women in every facet of society. From business leaders breaking glass ceilings to grassroots activists driving social progress, women continue to inspire, innovate, and lead with resilience and determination.

Businesses and organisations from across the West Midlands joined together for an inspirational event in Birmingham which celebrated women and girls from the region and highlighted the importance of championing inclusivity all year round.

'Standing for Better'

See another image here

"There is only true progress when all women are included and empowered to thrive."

Event panellists included Nicola Toyer, who leads the charities team at Investec Wealth & Investment (UK); Alethea Fuller, Deputy Chief Executive for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner; Emma Joy Smith, a Partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau; Marcia Lewinson, who has led Birmingham charity Women Acting in Today’s Society (WAITS) as Chief Executive for 25 years; and people motivator and strength psychology professional Dani Grieveson, who serves as an Advisor for the Financial Times.

Marking Commonwealth Day 2024

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:25:12 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 3 April 2024

Image Credit : WAITS Charity

Commonwealth Day was celebrated on Monday 11 March 2024, marking the beginning of a week-long series of events and activities happening around the globe – including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies and cultural events.

The theme for Commonwealth Day 2024, and the following Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth’. The theme highlights how the 56 member countries must harness their strengths by building resilience, unlocking potential, leveraging the 'Commonwealth Advantage' and fostering a connected, digital Commonwealth.

As a charity specialising in empowering global majority women, Commonwealth Day offers us a unique occasion to reflect on the diverse tapestry of cultures and backgrounds that enrich our work.

This day serves as a reminder of the unity among women worldwide, transcending borders and boundaries.

'Celebrations'

"Commonwealth Day offers a unique occasion to reflect on the diverse tapestry of cultures and backgrounds that enrich our work."

Within WAITS, we have had the privilege of working alongside women from various cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. Each woman brings her own unique story, experiences, and challenges, yet collectively, they form a powerful force for change and empowerment.

On this Commonwealth Day, we celebrated the resilience of women who have overcome adversity, the courage of those who continue to speak out against injustice, and the strength of those who stand in solidarity with one another.

Our Summary: Change the System Conference February 2024

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:22:59 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 3 April 2024

Image Credits : WAITS Charity

Women from Global Majority backgrounds who have experienced domestic abuse could soon be pulling on the uniform of the West Midlands Police – and the move has been welcomed by a leading crime expert from Birmingham City University.

Dr Laura Hammond, Director of BCU’s Crime and Society Research Centre, said Global Majority women who have experienced domestic abuse “haven’t been heard or taken into account” and need to be consulted if police are going to effectively tackle the issue.

She added; “We’ve been doing research to understand the experiences of those who are victims of domestic abuse. We’re connecting people with different perspectives, expert knowledge and lived experiences to co-create more effective responses to domestic abuse.”

'February 2024 Conference'

See another image here

“By bringing together policymakers and all the services that a woman survivor can access, we can make sure women are supported to heal themselves and go through the criminal justice system"

Dr Hammond is working with WAITS to give survivors a voice and an opportunity to share their experiences, including the barriers they face when attempting to access housing, benefits, police support and legal aid.

At a conference in February, co-hosted by BCU and WAITS, the idea of domestic abuse survivors working for the police was raised, and received a favourable response from Tom McNeil, Assistant Police Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands.

“I am convinced that the police’s response to domestic abuse within our diverse communities would be greatly enhanced through a new era of women joining the police to use their real-life experience of abuse and failings in the system,” he said.

“I fully commit to helping partners, including WAITS, explore how we embrace novel recruitment partnerships to attract this diverse talent.”

Dr Hammond said the pledge marked “the start of a new era of partnership between the police and domestic abuse survivors” , while Uzma Akhtar, a survivor herself, expressed her delight at the development. “I would like to become one of those officers myself,” she said .

According to Refuge, police receive a domestic abuse-related call every 30 seconds in the UK.

The charity, which supports women and children experiencing domestic violence, also reports that 40% of homeless women state domestic abuse as a contributory factor to their homelessness.

The conference called Change the System – was supported by Nicole Jacob, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, and Labour Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness at Birmingham City Council.

“We’ve brought together survivors, advocates and experts to shine a spotlight on the systematic barriers and create meaningful solutions that we expect these sectors to take on board to engage, support and empower women to survive domestic abuse,” said Deirdre LaBassiere, Chair of WAITS.

Marcia Lewinson, WAITS CEO, added; “In Birmingham, we have issues in lack of housing, legal aid and access to justice, issues with benefits and employment, and the reduction of police officers available to respond to women calling for help, which is one every minute in the city.

“By bringing together policymakers and all the services that a woman survivor can access, we can make sure women are supported to heal themselves and go through the criminal justice system, while meeting the needs of the Department for Work and Pensions.”

Notes to editors:

Issued by Birmingham City University Press Office.

Email: press@bcu.ac.uk

Our first pilot of domestic abuse awareness training (2024)

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:22:09 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 3 April 2024

Image Credit : WAITS Charity

We're thrilled to announce that we have just successfully wrapped up our very first pilot of domestic abuse awareness training sessions for security and front of house staff.

This is just the start of our journey towards collaborating with various businesses and the hospitality sector agencies in order to create a safer city for everyone.

Empower your staff with skills to recognise, respond, and refer effectively in situations of domestic abuse. Our awareness training equips your team with the knowledge, competence and empathy needed to identify signs of abuse in any public environment, contributing to a safe and supportive city.

As a result of the training, your staff becomes a vital link in the community's safety net, offering assistance and signposting with confidence and compassion!

'Training Matters'

Designed to empower your staff with skills to recognise, respond, and refer effectively in situations of domestic abuse.

In this course you’ll learn about the three R's - recognise, respond, refer:

What is domestic abuse (DA)? - the legal definition, what it means in simpler terms and the types of abuse
How to recognise the signs of DA
Cultural issues around DA
How to encourage the survivor to seek help - opening up the conversation, some phrases to avoid and offering practical advice
Safeguarding aspect, when to call police or signpost. Where to signpost the survivor to - charities and organisations that can support

Please email support@waitsaction.org if you are interested in securing a spot for any of the 2024 training dates listed below:

18 April
16 May
20 June
18 July
22 August
19 September
24 October
21 November
12 December

New Year Message from WAITS Chair

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:28:22 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 30 May 2023

Image Credit : Pexels/Duda

Dear WAITS Community,

As we step into 2024, I extend warm New Year wishes. 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of WAITS – a journey defined by resilience, empowerment and commitment to support over 10,000 marginalised and black women.

The success of our 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner illuminated a year of achievements and impactful collaborations.

The Sister Circle , a series of women-only events, connected like-minded women dedicated to making a difference in the lives of abused women. Our Dragon Boat Race in collaboration with the Rotary Club, and supported by Cygnet Healthcare, added a spirited touch.

'30 Years of Success'

In 2023 WAITS celebrated 30 years of delivering community services.

Heartfelt thanks to donors and supporters; over £100,000 in unrestricted funds was raised in 2023 and we opened a new refuge. We kick 2024 off with a recruitment drive for an Employment Coach.

Unusually, WAITS boasts two dedicated Boards – the Strategic Board of Trustees and the impactful SEEKERS Board . The latter, comprising survivors of domestic abuse, actively influenced events, collaborated with organisations like Birmingham City University and shaped grant provisions through the Wesleyan Foundation.

Notable collaborations included a CEDAW Shadow Report with the Women’s Resources Centre and presenting at the ECDV Symposium in Spain.

Our Board of Trustees conducted a comprehensive review, adapting to challenges like homelessness and rising inflation and committing to a strategy for secure tenure for 2024. As we unveil our new business strategy at the AGM on January 30th, Lara Oyedele will join as keynote speaker.

For 2024, we passionately advocate for local and national focus on domestic abuse in the General Election, as more work is needed.

To our Trustees, Ambassadors, Staff and Volunteers, my deepest gratitude. As we embrace 2024, let’s carry the spirit of solidarity, compassion and determination. Together, we will make a lasting impact on the lives of survivors and contribute to a future free from fear and violence.

Warm Regards,

Deirdre LaBassiere

Chair, Women Acting In Today’s Society (WAITS)

Welcome words of congratulations from Mayor, Andy Street

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:24:39 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 13 February 2024

Image Credit : FreeRangeStock - StuartMiles

As we have entered our 30th year as a charity, we are pleased to share these warm and encouraging words from Mayor Andy Street:

"I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the entire team at WAITS for the fantastic work they have done for women in the West Midlands over the past 30 years.

"Helping those who need it most and showing genuine compassion is the cornerstone of any thriving society.

"For WAITS to have now done that over 10,000 times is something to take immense pride in .

Andy Street

West Midlands Mayor

"We all dream of a society where organisations such as WAITS do not have to play such a crucial role in the everyday of our fellow citizens. Whilst this is not the case, I am glad that they will continue their fine work to not only offer light to vulnerable women in times of un-imaginable darkness but also empower them to find that light within themselves.

"Congratulations to you all."

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands

Introducing the Seeker’s Board

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:20:45 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 11 January 2024

Image Credit : FreeRangeStock - Unsplash

In 2023, WAITS clients worked in partnership with Birmingham University City to develop a conference for the West Midlands Police to share their experiences as survivors.

The aim of this conference was for the police to have a better understanding from a domestic abuse survivor's perspective of their encounters with the police and the justice system.

By creating space for open dialogue, the police were able to share with the survivors what their vision for where they aspire to be to make a difference in the experience women victims/survivors when reporting an incident, and how the police can ensure that a victim/survivor is listened to and protected.

'Dialouge Matters'

Developing leadership and knowledge about varied decision making systems, and influencing them to be favourable to BAME survivors of domestic abuse.

Since then, the women's group has embarked on a series of training sessions to help them to gain confidence, self-awareness, leadership and knowledge about varied decision making systems, and how to influence them to be favourable to BAME survivors of domestic abuse.

The SEEKERS Board is a group of empowered women who are experts by experience, working with WAITS to change policy on gender-based violence and share their experience with them to improve policies.

SEEKERS Board stands for Sharing Experience, Expertise and Knowledge for Effective Response and Safeguarding Board.

Event: 'Change the System' conference

waitsaction@gmail.com (WAITS Action) — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 16:16:29 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 11 February 2024

Image Credit : FreeRangeStock - Suchart Sriwichaia

We warmly invite you to the "Change the System" Conference, a pioneering event presented by Women Acting in Today's Society in collaboration with Birmingham City University.

Join us on 14th February 2024, at Birmingham City University for a transformative exploration of the challenges faced by survivors of Domestic Abuse within the BAME community.

Unveiling Systemic Barriers :

This Conference brings together survivors, advocates, and experts to shine a spotlight on the pervasive barriers within critical sectors. Through insightful panel discussions, we'll dissect issues in the realms of Police, Housing, Benefits, Crown Prosecution Service, and Legal Aid. Our goal is to not only identify these challenges but to collaboratively devise actionable strategies for change.

'Join us on 14th February'

Click on the image above to view or download the event full information flyer

Interactive Workshops :

Delve deeper into the complexities faced by survivors through hands-on workshops. Here, we invite you to actively participate in crafting solutions, fostering a space for shared learning and empowerment. Together, we'll explore innovative approaches to overcome barriers and create a more supportive environment.

Networking for Change :

Connect with a diverse community of like-minded individuals, professionals, and organisations etc, that are dedicated to breaking down barriers.

Forge partnerships that extend beyond the conference, fostering collaborations that contribute to lasting change. We believe that networking is a powerful catalyst for creating a united front against domestic abuse .

Why Attend?

This conference is more than an event; it's a movement.

By attending, you contribute to amplifying the voices of survivors and advocating for systemic change. We believe in the strength of collective action to dismantle barriers, ensuring a future where every voice is heard and respected.

Secure Your Spot!

RSVP to Claudia Gonzalez via vol.coordinator@waitsaction.org

by 7th February, 2024 .

Join us as we stand together, amplify voices, and pave the way for a future free from domestic abuse. See you at the Conference!

The WAITS 30th Anniversary Ball event is announced

Tue, 30 May 2023 21:27:25 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 30 May 2023

Image Credit : Pexels/Duda

Women Acting In Today’s Society (WAITS) invite you to

a night of glamour and prestige for our 30th Anniversary which is going to be taking place at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre , on 28 October 2023.

Our fundraising evening effort is in aid of WAITS a multi-award-winning charity. WAITS provides high quality support and interventions to women who experience domestic abuse, and also to female offenders suffering domestic abuse who want to turn their lives around.

We offer key services to support women in achieving their goals, live free from domestic abuse, be confident and be economically independent. WAITS empowers women to have a voice to influence government and local policies.

'30 Years of Action'

Click on the image above to view or download the event information flyer.

BOOK A PLACE HERE

Our services include:

Domestic Abuse Service – supporting women who have experienced/are currently experiencing Domestic Abuse.

The Community Integration Project (CIP) – supporting the resettlement of women suffering domestic abuse who have offended in the past or who are at risk of offending/re-offending in the future.

Women’s Refuge – supporting women who are fleeing from domestic abuse or who are homeless due to domestic violence.

Therapeutic services - free counselling and personal development workshops for women suffering Domestic Abuse to build confidence and heal emotional damage.

Our 30th Anniversary Ball is raising funds for the following:

- Providing welcome packs for women who face homelessness
- Children’s Christmas presents
- Counselling and workshops for women
- WAITS refuge services

Hosted by: TBC

The night will include:

- A three-course meal.
- Raffle (prizes donated by local business, hotels and restaurants)
- Live entertainment

Dress code: Black tie
Carriages at midnight

Book a place here >

The WAITS Sister Circle Event

Tue, 30 May 2023 21:27:05 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 30 May 2023

Image Credit : Pexels/Duda

Women Acting in Todays Society (WAITS) are excited to invite you to our third Sister Circle.

A special women-only cocktail mixology class that will cover the basic construction of cocktails, bartender equipment and cocktail making techniques.

After a demonstration on how to make each drink, you will use professional bar equipment with guidance from Zen Metro to mix your own acholic or non alcoholic cocktail.

Join us for an evening of fun and connection with like-minded women who are determined to make a difference for women facing abuse in Birmingham.

'For Women, By Women'

Click on the image above to view or download the event information flyer.

WAITS charity has been helping Birmingham’s women in need for 30 years. But we also need your allyship too.

Sister Circle events are organised by WAITS for women, women in business or female philanthropists who wish to support the aims of WAITS to create a legacy of freedom, empowerment and safety for women and families .

Come and unwind, relax and enjoy the company of other amazing women. This is a great opportunity to network, share stories, and be part of an empowering community, and all to support a great cause.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Time: 11th July from 6pm to 8pm
Location: Zen Metro, 73 Cornwall Street, Birmingham B3 2D

We are doing it again, the Dragon Boat Challenge 2023

Tue, 30 May 2023 21:26:45 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 30 May 2023

Image Credit : Pexels/Duda

Dragon Boat racing is one of the most colourful and exhilarating water sport activities in the United Kingdom, and we are excited to launch our Dragon Boat Race 2023 in support of the WAITS charity.

Racing in traditional dragon boats at The Edgbaston Reservoir on the 17 of June 2023, your team of eleven will take part in a minimum of three races, all 200m each in length, after which the winning team will be awarded the coveted Dragon Trophy.

You don’t need any prior experience to take part as our experts from Dragon Boat Events will brief all the teams on the day and support you through the various heats.

All you'll need to do is get yourself into a team of 11, (10 rowers and one drummer), register, and then raise some money for WAITS.

'Volunteers Needed'

Click on the image above to view or download the event information flyer.

Download registration form below.

WAITS has moved offices

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:30:37 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 25 October 2022

Image Credit : pexels

The WAITS office base is on the move, to a more central location in the heart of Birmingham City Centre.

Our new head office has easy access to bus, tram and train networks, making us more accessible to our clients who come from across the Birmingham and Solihull regions.

Through building relationships with funders which go past receiving grant funding, and businesses supporting charities provides an ideal combination in attracting support that goes beyond financial support.

All of us at WAITS wishes to thank the Heart of England Community Foundation and Wesleyan for helping us to realise our ambitions of securing a central location for our offices.

Our new address

Women Acting in Today’s Society

Wesleyan Building

3rd Floor East

Colmore Circus

Birmingham, B4 6AR

View Map >

WAITS announces The Silver Ribbon Trail - 8 September 2022

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 11:37:54 GMT

source: WAITS

published: 19 August 2022

Image Credit : Joel Muniz via Unsplash.com

The Silver Ribbon Trail will be launched at Chapter Edgbaston, by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Maureen Cornish JP at 4:00pm on 8 September 2022.

Join us for a mile walk with 100 strong and elated women coming together in solidarity, their every step led by vibrant musicians, tying beautiful silken ribbons along the way in honour of all WAITS survivors.

Not only this, on every decorated tree there will be motivational posters celebrating the great women who have overcome adversity or have achieved for the City of Birmingham.

All the way through the trail, we will be replenished and refreshed with light refreshments, ice cream, mocktails, prosecco and cocktails by some of Birmingham’s iconic bars and restaurants; Chapter Edgbaston, Heidi’s Broad Street, The Rep and Dishoom euphoric poets, dancers, and a host of incredible inspiring female speakers will send the atmosphere soaring to the heavens at every single stop.

We will journey from Five Ways to Brindley Place, we will become immersed in the breathtaking ‘PoliNations’ art installation, decorating our last tree at St Philips Cathedral at 6:30pm, before the most hedonistic and inexhaustible among you will no doubt enjoy the Silver Ribbon after party at The Florence, the most unapologetically fun loving end to a night imaginable .

"For Women, By Women"

We encourage all participants to dress in whatever makes them feel the most empowered, confident and comfy! Why not join in the mood of the Silver Ribbon Trail?

Dress in your, sparkly outfits - wearing plenty of bling is a must for this occasion.

To take part you must register your place.

please email administration@waitsaction.org or marcia@waitsaction.org

We are raising funds for a new Refuge.

You can a donate to the cause using our JustGiving icons below.

Welcome to our upgraded website

Mon, 02 May 2022 13:35:19 GMT

source: First Stop Web Design

published: 2 May 2022

Image Credit : WAITS

The website has a number of major improvements to its layout and navigation, as well as new interactive facilities including:

Visual and Text Layout

Our page-view layouts are a lot clearer and also provide visual and text links to related internal or external information. The website can also be viewed on iPhones and tablets.

See more from home

Our new home page has more of our key content visible to visitors helping you to find what you are looking for easier all in one place.

Easier Navigation

Getting around the site and finding content is made much easier using our main menu and intelligent blog news search system. With the new enhanced social network tools you can share our content quickly and easily via Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Linkedin and other popular platforms.

Interactive e-Newsletter

Our monthly newsletter remains incorporated in the website for a single-source experience. We hope that our subscribers find the new options and layout of our newsletter more user-friendly.

Accessibility

We have taken all steps within our means to ensure the new website broadly complies with W3C standards and with The Equality Act ensuring that people with disabilities will be able to use the site and have the same access to the same content and resources as any other visitors. This is an area of ongoing development that WAITS will be committed to indefinitely.

A New Look For Our Website…

A fresh look for 2022+

The WAITS website has undergone a comprehensive 18-month revamp in close consultation with our web designers.

The website incorporates new and enhanced features such as the improved and interactive news blog and e-newsletter, as well as our brand new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) page.

Many thanks to First Stop Web Design for providing a completely free consultation and redesign process saving WAITS well over £3,500 in development costs.

Completely New Features:

In our new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section we have compiled quick answers to some of the most common types of enquiries WAITS receives.

Our revamped Private Visits page advises on the steps you can take to help prevent any one knowing you have visited this website.

The website now includes a page on our Volunteering & Influencing Project which was launched in August 2020.

The project supports our clients through their holistic recovery of domestic abuse. Clients attend weekly therapeutic workshops that are aimed at developing skills and reducing social isolation.

The clients engage with facilitators who teach about managing money, self-care, cooking, housing, and wellbeing.

Huge thanks for donations to WAITS

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 09:34:32 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 12 June 2021

Image Credit : StuartMiles at www.FreeRangeStock.com

WAITS are very thankful and appreciative for all the donations we receive. The women who access our services can come with no resources, the donations really help women in need.

We would like to say a massive thank you to:

Yasmin and the Be kind Volunteers

As part of the Eid Celebrations, Yasmin and volunteers donated some beautiful Asian suits and an Eid hamper so our women in refuge could take part in Eid Celebrations. The women appreciated this beautiful and thoughtful donation.

WAITS Treasurer – Sally

Sally has donated some marvellous side tables and some children’s clothes.

The tables will be useful for storing WAITS craft and workshop materials to provide some much-needed storage space at the WAITS offices and the clothes will be donated to the children of our service users.

Robina and Team

We would like to send a big thank you – Highfield Hall Community Centre, who donated food parcels which contained food for the women in refuge to cook some lovely dishes at home.

The women were very appreciative for this kind-hearted donation from Highfield Hall Community Centre.

We would also like to say a big Thank you to our Placement Volunteer Ms Dos Santos for helping to sort and pack all the donations that we have had during lockdown.

Impact Factory: Training delivered for the service users of WAITS

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:20:41 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 13 April 2021

Image Credit : WAITS

WAITS were absolutely overwhelmed when a simple enquiry led to the offer of not one but TWO sessions of pro bono training from The Impact Factory for our service users.

As part of the Self-Love workshops in February, senior consultants Janet and Lesley provided an insightful, enjoyable, fun and reflective workshop, ensuring to put the service users and their experiences at the heart of their training.

Person Centered

The sessions covered assertiveness and self-care which helped the service users with their confidence and self-esteem.

The Group had time to reflect on the choices they made and came away from the workshop understanding ways to be assertive and take

charge of their own lives.

We had a resounding thumbs-up from all participants for a fantastic and insightful session .

WAITS staff and service users would like to send a massive thank you

to Rose, Jo, Janet and Lesley at the Impact Factory for their

generosity and delivering an important and empowering

workshop to our service users.

We hope we will do more of these in the future .

International Women’s Day 2021

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:40:15 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 14 April 2021

Image Credit : RawPixel at www.FreeRangeStock.com

International Women’s day took place on Monday 8th March. WAITS staff and service users were all participants of the day, being clear in the message to Choose to Challenge.

From the first IWD campaigning for women’s rights to vote and women’s working conditions on March 19th, 1911 to 110 years later where the message is Choose to Challenge, International Women’s Day is celebrated through the colours:

Purple for dignity and Justice
Green for Hope and
White for Purity

Even with the challenges of Covid WAITS staff were able to spread their support of IWD through our message:

WAITS Charity are celebrating to help forge a gender equality world on International Women’s Day Monday 8th March 2021.

We celebrate women’s achievement, to raise racial awareness and to take action for equality.

#choosetochallenge #IWD2020

Our service users had a fantastic day of workshops hosted by commendable women:

Zerelda from ZeiCakes did an amazing online cupcake workshop with the women, who were supplied with all the ingredients and tools. They made beautiful purple themed cupcakes to show support.

Michele from MDTI gave another fantastic workshop on women’s health, speaking to service users of all ages about the important health topics such as Covid, the menopause and sexual health.

The last workshop was managed by staff choosing to challenge our service users to set some goals for the year via the futureme.org website, so they can see what they've achieved by next IWD.

The WAITS 'Walking a Mile in Her Shoes' fundraiser

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 20:47:42 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 13 December 2020

Image Credit : WAITS

A Thank you to the 80 participants of our sponsored walk which took place on 23rd October 2020, to the men who took up the challenge, and finally to our sponsors Lloyds Banking Group.

The walks took place in gardens, offices and on the streets. We were bowled over with the ingenious ways the mile walk was completed. Your valiant efforts to don women shoes and walk a mile raised £2,770.00 which will be used to furnish a new refuge for women escaping domestic abuse.

WAITS is an established charity which has worked with women for over 20 years. We offer 3 key services which aim to support women to achieve their goals, feel empowered and gain independence.

“Women with the power to make and influence decisions and make positive change”

We support women, on a one-to-one basis, to address issues such as welfare benefits, resettlement/housing issues, domestic abuse, isolation, physical and mental health, crime, the fear of crime and much more.

Unlike some other organisations, we are not time-bound, meaning we are able to offer ongoing support for as long as it is needed.

Visit our Facebook page here >

Walking a Mile in Her Shoes podcast

Play or download recording here ..

(Pictured) Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, John Crabtree OBE and Mrs Diane Crabtree setting off for 'Walk a Mile in Their Shoes'. They raised £500.

The Covid pandemic brought difficulties for all of us. Women living through lockdown often needed a safe place to escape to, where they could live free from violence and abuse.

During the pandemic WAITS had seen an increase in women to our charity in need of safe and confidential accommodation. Women were made homeless as an alternative to living in fear and danger.

We had assisted one young women who reached out to WAITS through our website to let us know what was happening to her.

It took a few days for her to build up her confidence to tell us her fear of being forced into marriage, and the financial abuse she suffered at the hands of her parents.

We arranged for the police to removed her to safety, and ensured she was signposted to agencies that would support her recovery journey.

Broadcaster says; ‘Domestic abuse is still shrouded in shame’

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 23:04:48 GMT

source: Jewish News

published: 2 December 2020

Image Credit : tuelekza at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Broadcaster Emma Barnett said domestic abuse is “still a subject shrouded in shame” , as she appeared on a panel to raise greater awareness of the issue. She was joined by bestselling author Noreena Hertz.

Addressing a virtual audience of 530 viewers, Barnett – who next month becomes the new presenter of Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour – was joined by economist and bestselling author Noreena Hertz and designate domestic abuse commissioner Nicole Jacobs for the event hosted by Jewish Women’s Aid (JWA) on Thursday evening.

Increased Anxiety

The BBC broadcaster addressed a virtual audience of over 500 people and also was joined by bestselling author Noreena Hertz at an event organised by the Jewish Women's Aid charity.

In revealing how domestic abuse has increased on a national level, CEO Naomi Dickson said: “We’ve seen the same at Jewish Women’s Aid.”

She added: “Women are telling us that they’re increasingly anxious, increasingly prone to experiencing physical abuse and they’re very, very concerned about their children who are traumatised by what they’re witnessing in the home.”

Hertz, in conversation with Barnett, talked about the problem of 'optimism bias', whereby a close community can fail to acknowledge their own members can be affected by such issues.

She said: “If you’re Jewish, you may find it extremely hard to believe that that’s happening in your community.”

Read the full article here >

Pride of Britain Award winner, Rebecca Beattie: ‘Life after abuse does exist’

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 13:33:58 GMT

source: BBC News

published: 27 October 2020

Image Credit : Hassan Ouajbir at www.Pexels.com

Rebecca Beattie was a victim of domestic and financial abuse for five years. Her ex-partner would gamble and use her bank cards to withdraw money and take out big loans. When she tried to end the relationship, he assaulted her so badly that she needed reconstructive surgery.

But now, Rebecca’s won a 2020 Pride of Britain award for setting up an ethical clothing brand which helps support domestic violence victims.

“Throughout my relationship, the violence started becoming more frequent, I suffered a lot of physical and emotional abuse,” Rebecca tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

“I made the decision to end the relationship. A couple of weeks after, my ex told me he was going to kill me and assaulted me,” she says.

But it wasn’t only physical abuse. Rebecca, who’s from York, says she was economically abused for years.

She was left with thousands of pounds of debt which will take 16 years to pay off.

“I was left in a very poor financial state, and I remember being sat with my son one night and we were really struggling.”

Her ex-partner was later jailed and Rebecca decided she wanted to do something to support other victims of abuse.

Read full article >

Warning: The article contains a distressing image related to domestic violence.

Jess Phillips MP: The Domestic Abuse Bill is to be welcomed, but there is still work to be done

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 16:08:09 GMT

source: PoliticsHome

published: 9 March 2020

Image Credit : StuartMiles at www.FreeRangeStock.com

The long-awaited Domestic Abuse Bill contains some good measures – but there is still a way to go to ensure proper protection for victims, writes Jess Phillips MP.

The Domestic Abuse Bill is to be welcomed. I have for the past three years felt like a 5-year-old in the back of the car who asks as every mile of a journey passes, “are we nearly there yet?”. The assurance that, “we expect the second reading of the bill to be before Easter” has been said to me for two years and I am only kicking myself that I didn’t ask ministers which year or even which decade they meant.

“ I really hope that all the false starts, prorogations and, “it just needs a bit more work” days are done, and we will see this bill in front of the House and scrutinised properly and in public at last.

The bill has some good stuff in it, placing domestic abuse secure accommodation and refuge on a statutory footing, and demanding that all tier one local authorities (county councils and unitary authorities) must provide it. It appears to be coming with money to do it too. Big tick .

Of course, only a very small percentage of victims and their children

ever go into a refuge and the majority of support provided for

domestic abuse victims is in the community and relies on the

availability of social housing.

These are less well catered for in the bill currently and so it will need some work on this.

Read full article >

Domestic abusers and stalkers should sign register like sex offenders

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 13:16:40 GMT

source: The Telegraph

originally published: 22 October 2018

Image Credit : IndypendenZ at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Domestic abusers and stalkers should be forced to sign a national register like sex offenders, a cross-party parliamentary report has said. They should be monitored under the same arrangements as rapists and paedophiles , giving greater protection to victims who live in fear of their tormentors.

The Commons Home Affairs Committee backed calls for a register of serial stalkers and domestic violence perpetrators to be introduced “as a matter of urgency”.

The perpetrators would have to register with the police within 72 hours of being convicted or cautioned and have to notify officers if they intend to move house or travel abroad.

Under the proposals, individuals on the register would be managed through multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa), the system used to manage the risks posed by violent and sexual offenders living in the community.

The report says: “Stalking is a serious crime which can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims.

“Victims of stalking often endure years of abuse before the crime is taken seriously. We were told that existing criminal justice responses were often ineffective in stopping perpetrators.”

Read full article >

WAITS celebrates 25 years of social action: from 1993 to 2018

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 16:56:15 GMT

source: WAITS Team

published: 5 February 2018

Image Credit : StuartMiles at www.FreeRangeStock.com

Well is it is almost too late to wish you all a happy new year, five plus weeks into the new year and it seems time is already flying by us all so quickly.

So how are your 2018 resolutions/ goals going? Did you make any?

WAITS board and senior management team have been looking towards our future goals despite the difficult funding climate, spurred on by our 25th Anniversary. The 25th Anniversary Ball was also scheduled to take place on 17 November 2018 at Edgbaston Stadium.

New Mission Statement

Our Business strategy designed in consultation with Pilotlight coaches, clients, staff, stakeholders and trustees includes our brand new vision mission statement.

Our Business strategy designed in consultation with Pilotlight coaches, clients, staff, our stakeholders and trustees includes our brand

new vision and mission statements:

Vision

A society where women are safe, valued and fulfilled.

Mission

Empowering women to make positive choices.

Values

We empower clients and staff
We are client-focused and deliver holistic, quality services that provide value for money
We treat people with dignity and respect
We act with integrity and honesty
We are innovative, using creative solutions to meet challenges
We respect and value the diversity of people in our communities and are committed to fair access to services for all

WAITS wins Foundation Award for 'Surviving Against The Odds’

Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:57:57 GMT

Birmingham-based charity Women Acting In Today’s Society (WAITS) was announced as the national winner in the ‘Against the Odds’ category at the Lloyds Bank Foundations Charity Achievement Awards.

WAITS, which helps women facing issues such as domestic abuse, isolation, ill health and resettlement fended off competition from almost 1000 entrants across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands with the inspiring story of their return from the brink of collapse.

WAITS received their prize of £3000 at Banking Hall, the historic London headquarters of Lloyds Bank, in a ceremony compared by Radio 4 broadcaster and journalist, Libby Purves.

The story of WAITS’ struggle is all too familiar to the Lloyds Foundation, whose recent report Expert Yet Undervalued and On the Front Line published in July, voiced the concerns of the many small and medium sized charities that are at risk because of budget cuts and welfare reforms.

Yet their story of resilience set the tone.

Paul Streets, Chief Executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales said:

"We are delighted to celebrate the UK winners of our Charity Achievement Awards.

"WAITS has demonstrated excellent and inspiring practice and with this award are recognised for their achievement in battling against the odds to not just survive but thrive, delivering vital services and literally transforming lives.

"For over 30 years the Foundation has supported thousands of small and medium sized charities like WAITS to tackle disadvantage in communities right across the England and Wales, and we look forward to doing much more in the years to come."

WAITS through the funding also benefit from the Foundation’s Enhance mentoring programme which is run in partnership with Lloyds Bank. Jo Harris, Director, Strategy and Development from Lloyds Banking Group, who has supported the CEO through their recent period of change and development described WAITS’ survival as "a great example of facing into adversity and adapting’, and regarding its CEO, Marcia Lewinson as ‘a very inspiring lady."

Legal aid cuts exposing domestic abuse victims to court ordeal

Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:31:44 GMT

source: The Guardian

originally published: 19 February 2015

Image Credit : Freerange Stock Archives at www.FreeRangeStock.com

Victims of domestic abuse increasingly face being cross-examined by their attackers because legal aid cuts make it difficult to qualify for courtroom representation, according to research by Citizens Advice.

The warning also features in a report by a parliamentary select committee that says women who have endured violence in the home may have problems providing the evidence required to obtain a lawyer.

The justice system’s treatment of victims of domestic violence has become a politically charged issue. The Ministry of Justice says all victims are entitled to legal aid to help them “break free from abusive relationships”.

But a Citizens Advice report, Victims of Abuse: Struggling for Support, says the regulations, “both in terms of evidence requirements and income or asset thresholds requiring financial contribution, leave large numbers of victims giving up on their rights to justice.”

It adds: “In some cases these restrictions expose victims to risk, leaving no alternative but to represent themselves in court facing their perpetrator.”

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 set out regulations about how victims can provide evidence of abuse having occurred in the previous two years.

Read full article >

WAITS CEO Challenges the Prime Minister, David Cameron

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:51:42 GMT

WAITS CEO, Marcia Lewinson, took on the UK Prime Minister David Cameron earlier this week on the issue of housing benefits changes affecting victims of domestic violence.

Panelist's and attendees at last Thursday’s Drum Arts Centre Black History Month debate (7 November 2013) were stunned to discover the surprise guest Chair was none other than David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Unphased, Marcia used her position as a panelist to stand up for victims of domestic violence.

She challenged the PM on incoming changes to Housing Benefit rules which are set to have serious consequences for victims of Domestic Abuse and the refuges that support them. David Cameron, whilst unable to give a definitive answer, gave the audience his assurance that he would task some of his fellow MPs with investigating the matter fully.

Changes to the benefits system are a serious cause for concern, potentially placing both victims of Domestic Abuse (DA) and the refuges that support them at risk.

WAITS Statement

“We sincerely hope that Marcia’s clear message to PM David Cameron is taken to heart and action taken on ensuring that the benefits system reflects needs of victims of domestic abuse and the refuges that support them"

At present when a victim of Domestic Abuse seeks a place in a refuge their housing benefit (if they receive it) continues to be paid to their landlord and they can receive an additional payment for their refuge accommodation.

However, with the benefits cap, those DA victims with larger families may find their refuge rent puts them over the threshold leaving them potentially unable to access refuge services.

A second concern is the end of direct payments to landlords (except in very limited circumstances).

This will leave it up to refuges to gain payment for their services from individual victims of domestic violence.

The change from weekly to monthly payments will also make it difficult for refuges to collect payment, especially when survivors of DA often only use refuge services for a few days.

These changes also come at a time when local authorities, Birmingham City Council in particular, are under increasing pressure to make cuts and reduce expenditure across all areas.

This includes in offering funding to third sector and community initiatives, such as refuges.

Overall changes to the benefits system represent a very real risk that fewer women in serious need will be able to access refuge services. They also place the future of refuge services at risk by jeopardizing the funding they desperately need to continue supporting victims of domestic violence.

WAITS is very proactive in its support for victims of Domestic Abuse through offering support, counselling and empowerment services and its refuge, Iona House. As a result we know how important these services are for victims of domestic violence.

We sincerely hope that Marcia’s clear message to PM David Cameron is taken to heart and action taken on ensuring that the benefits system reflects needs of victims of DA and the refuges that support them.

John Bercow MP, visit to WAITS

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 11:51:42 GMT

On Friday 25th May I (Henrietta Brealey) was fortunate enough to co-chair an event featuring the Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons. For those who aren’t sure the Speaker of the House of Commons is that fellow who sits in the big chair in the House of Commons and tells MP’s off when they over step the mark ( like when David Cameron called Ed Balls a ‘muttering idiot’ on PM’s question the other week ).

His role is to stay impartial and maintain order. As well as this he’s also doing some rather excellent work with the Parliamentary Outreach service to help improve public engagement in politics and improve equality and diversity in the House itself.

The event in question was a WAITS Policy Forum on the opportunities for and barriers facing women wanting to get involved in politics ( see my previous blog post for a brief overview of the situation ). Aside from Mr Speaker being delayed in traffic and arriving half an hour late the event was a great success, with the Policy Forum speakers and Mr Speaker himself delivering engaging, informative and occasionally amusing speeches and deftly answering challenging questions.

Our first speaker was Sharon Thompson. Sharon is currently a magistrate and has a vast amount of first-hand experience of the issues women, and especially mothers, face with wanting to get involved in politics. The key points that I took away from her presentation were:

1) There are two kinds of women local parties need to consider: those that are already engaged in politics and those that would make a fantastic contribution to the political scene but feel that they lack the knowledge ( ‘I don’t watch the politics show!’ ), skills or ability to make it. To help engage these women we need more successful female politicians to act as mentors and ‘pass the baton on’ to the next aspiring generation and more family and female friendly events. Things like low key, welcoming coffee mornings where women can get together in a friendly environment and chat about what makes them tick and how they can get more involved in party politics.

2) Parties need to raise awareness of political positions beyond just councillor's and MP’s. Sharon made the point that there are loads of local party positions (such as women’s officer) that can represent fantastic ways for women who are interested in politics to gain a bit more experience without being shoved in at the deep end of the MP or Councillor candidate selection and campaigning process. But hardly anyone knows about them.

Our next speaker was Ally Sultana. Ally is the Coordinator for Saheli Women’s Group Empowerment Project which works to increase the understanding of politics and political structures amongst women in South Birmingham. She spoke passionately about the importance of politics and the difficult experiences of the women she had delivered training to on how to become a local councillor.

1) Ally began by talking about the experiences of the women she had worked with, saying that it’s not just the women who have to change but the parties themselves. After helping deliver training to South Birmingham women on how to become a local councillor, in line with parliamentary guidelines on the matter, many of the women were put off the political process by the in-fighting, pettiness and bickering that they had witnessed. If parties are serious about improving equality and diversity in their numbers, they need to be serious about changing their ways too.

2) Next Ally made the point that, if you’re going to run for candidacy you need to a) know yourself and be confident that whatever the barrier you can get through, b) build a vast support network around you. It’s a tough process and will involve a load of highs and lows, so you really can’t do it alone. Despite these difficulties and barriers, though, Ally concluded with an impassioned plea to the audience: get involved. Things won’t change until we make it happen so whatever you come up against, keep going and it’ll be worth it in the end.

Our final W.A.I.T.S Policy Forum speaker was Nura Ally. Nura is currently the Community Development Officer for the Hodge Hill constituency and founder and director of the Allies Network; a community organisation set up by women for disadvantaged women from ethnic minority backgrounds and communities in the West Midlands.

She had some interesting advice and feedback based on her own experiences of competing for candidate selection:

1) The ‘tick box’ approach to equality is not always helpful. Nura felt that during the selection process there was far too much emphasis placed on the external qualities gender, race, sexuality, and not enough on what an individual can truly offer.

She believed that a stronger set of guidelines to go alongside the process, weighting the importance of these external qualities against the individual’s personality and experience would help make the system fairer for all.

2) Like Ally, Nura called for all of the assembled audience to get more involved. Her own experiences may not have been difficulty free but that does not change that fact that she believes that it is every woman’s ( and man’s ) civic duty to get involved in politics. She asked that every audience member join a political party of their choice and start participating as it’s only through participation that change is going to occur.

Our final speaker of the morning was Mr Speaker himself, the Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP. Mr Bercow attended the WAITS Policy forum as part of a series of events he was participating in in Birmingham that day as part of the Parliamentary outreach programme, aiming to bring Parliament to the people and helping make national politics national, not just London centric. The main theme of his speech was what Parliament is already doing, and what still needs to be done, to help make it more accessible to women.

1) He discussed changes he had insisted on already such as the creation of a nursery within the Houses of Parliament to help female employees and MP’s with young children. He also referred to the creation of ParliAble (a Parliamentary Disability Equality Network) and ParliOut ( a support group for LGBT individuals ) before talking about the female ‘movers and shakers’ of Parliament.

2) He then referred to what he felt were still key barriers facing women wanting to get involved in politics. First the anti-social work hours ( on Mondays and Thursdays, for instance, Parliament opens at 2:30pm and ends at 10:30pm ) which he felt should be swiftly dealt with. Secondly the ‘ya-boo’ (heckling) atmosphere of the House of Commons itself and the masculine ‘boys club’ attitude it can portray, which he hopes will be changed by more women striving to become candidates and thus more women making it into Parliament.

After this we moved onto a brief question and answer session in which the assembled audience excelled, asking tough and poignant questions and suggesting improvements to the system Mr Bercow should take back with him to Parliament. There were too many to list here so here’s just a few:

a) Job share MP’s? One lady had an interesting suggestion: in order to make high profile political positions more attractive to women Parliament could look a job share scheme. She argued that many women, especially in the public sector, manage to juggle advancing their careers with looking after young children by opting in to a job share position, so how about applying the idea to MP’s, divvying up the role so that one individual does the local constituency work and the other the Westminster role/varying combinations of the two?

b) How can we guarantee that the hard work Mr Speaker has put in to improving equality and Parliament outreach will be continued by his successor? This highly apt question had a very simple answer from Mr Bercow: we can’t. But on the plus side he plans on sticking around for a good few more years.

c) The selection process for MP’s is ridiculously expensive, requires a large amount of travelling and favours candidates with public speaking training and experience ( i.e. private school or Ox-Bridge ), what about a hardship fund and how about making the selection process as much about the person’s other abilities as it is about public speaking? Mr Bercow agreed with this statement but discussed the difficulties of getting either Parliament ( and the public ) to agree to putting a portion of tax payer’s money aside to help candidates of any party in dire financial need, or individual parties to put a portion of their funds towards an in party scheme.

At this point Mr Bercow was whisked off to his next appointment, already a little on the late side, and myself and the assembled audience were left to reflect on what had been said and what still needs to be done.

Or me, I was personally genuinely impressed with Mr Bercow’s down to earth, often amusing approach to his role as speaker and his dedication to going out in to the community to engage with harder to reach groups. However, despite the leaps being made forward, I was left feeling that the fight for more women in Parliament is still an uphill struggle.

Mr Speaker himself stated that just getting a nursery facility in place in Parliament came up against opposition and apathy, with many colleagues complaining ‘there’s nowhere we could put one’ ( a statement proved glaringly untrue by the fact that there is now one in place ).

Likewise, the WAITS Policy Forum speakers all depicted an image of local party politics that really needs to make more of an effort to become more approachable for women in ways that really would not require too much effort on their half ( coffee mornings, mentoring, family friendly event times, fairer selection process ). 93 years on from when the first female MP took her seat the proportion of women in Parliament remains stubbornly at just 22%. Only 37 out of Birmingham’s 120 local councillor's are female.

I’m very glad that someone is standing up for common sense policies to get more women involved in the political process but there’s a heck of a lot more work still to be done.

Fortunately the WAITS Policy forum speakers seem more than willing to take on the challenge.