Creation
We kicked of 16 Days of Action with ‘women’s coffee and crafts’ and a client open day in our West and North London Women’s centres. Women joined activities of mood boards, DIY beauty products and tote bag painting.
We also held a film afternoon, where ourselves and clients got together to relax and enjoy a movie.
Appreciation
We wanted to show our appreciation to the amazing and passionate women at Advance who spend every day fighting to end violence against women and girls with the Staff Calm Mediation Restorative Justice Presentation.
We also spent the day together, celebrating our diversity and learning how each of us brings to the mix what makes the Advance team unique! As Sally (survivor) told us “your support saved my life”. We are so proud of each of us!
Inspiration
We celebrated inspirational women activists, our founders Bear Montique and Beryl Foster OBE who trailblazed for the women and children whose voices had not been heard. Watch them talk about their story and who inspires them HERE
We are continuously inspired by the amazing women in our team, delivering impactful and life changing work, the trustees who dedicate themselves, their time and resources to ending violence against women and girls and our incredible partners who work with us every day to strive for better outcomes for women.
Realisation
We receive calls from thousands of women and children living with abuse in all forms who are afraid and at risk. IDVA’s provide essential work for these women and their children and every woman suffering from abuse, or stuck in the criminal justice system deserves someone to advocate for them, to stand with them, to be their support. Statutory funding and support is needed for this to happen. #Invest2EndAbuse
With the introduction of the DA Bill (read more here), we also used 16 Days of Activism as an opportunity to discuss the various forms abuse can take. Coercive control, and repeated psychological abuse by a partner which aims to isolate, manipulate and terrorise can leave long lasting emotional and psychological effects.
Celebration
We took the opportunity to celebrate our supporters and donors who take action to end Violence against Women and Girls so that women & children can lead safe, violence-free lives as part of their communities.
We also Celebrated the awe inspiring survivors we work with everyday whose bravery, strength, humour, love, compassion and emotion perfectly exemplifies the brilliance and perseverance of the human spirit.
