Advance’s Women’s Centre in Canterbury is the eighth centre to be opened since the charity began 25 years ago, in addition to local hubs to support women. Advance is the largest charity supporting over 2700 women in contact with the criminal justice system each year nationally. In addition to Kent, Advance also works in partnership with 12 local and national women’s service providers and statutory services in Hampshire, Thames Valley, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Greater London.
Niki Scordi, CEO of Advance, said:
Advance’s Kent Service Manager, Amy D, said:
We know that prison does not work for most women: it destabilises their and their families’ lives by ripping them away from their children and out of their communities.
Advance’s Centres are women-only safe spaces where women can join in, be themselves; somewhere they can share, learn, laugh, and heal.
-ENDS-
For all press enquiries, please contact:
E: press@advancecharity.org.uk
Notes to editors
- Advance offers women holistic, consistent support, meeting their individual needs over a longer period, empowering them to break the cycle of re-offending and preventing the breakdown of families. Women can refer themselves to our services, as well as be referred by the police, probation, statutory agencies, and other voluntary organisations.
- Advance’s specialist advocates work in partnership with 12 local and national women’s service providers, alongside statutory services to provide services within women’s communities across the 6 regions of Hampshire, Kent, Thames Valley, Essex, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire.
- Through our woman-centred approach, we aim to prevent the cycle of re-offending, tackling issues such as lack of consistent housing and homelessness, domestic abuse and sexual violence, mental health, emotional well-being, parenting and family relationships, education training and employment, finance, benefits, and debt. Read more about Advance’s Minerva model here.
- 53% of women in prison report having experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse as a child compared to 22% of men.
- 72% of women who entered prison in 2020 have committed a non-violent offence.
- 57% of women in prison and under community supervision report being victims of domestic abuse. The true figure is likely higher, as many women fear disclosing abuse.
- 50% of women, compared to 22% of men, have reported that they offended to support someone else’s drug use.
About Advance
- Advance’s vision is a world in which women and children lead safe, equal, violence-free lives so that they can flourish and actively contribute to society. The charity works with women who experience domestic abuse to be safe and take control of their lives, and women who have committed crime or are at risk of offending to break the cycle.As well as providing direct support, Advance works with statutory services, government agencies and other women’s charities to ensure a holistic approach to the issues these women face.
- Women must be referred to Advance, via statutory services or the charity’s self-referral scheme. For more information about who Advance is able to support, please visit Get Help
- For facts and statistics about domestic abuse and women in the criminal justice system, as well as Advance’s work, please visit Our Impact