Rosa has announced the distribution of almost £600,000 of grants to strengthen and ensure the future sustainability of frontline VAWG organisations across the UK. The money comes from Rosa’s Stand With Us fund, which was set up last year to utilise and continue the amazing fundraising efforts of Reclaim These Streets.
A total of 25 organisations from across the UK will receive one-year grants of up to £25,000, which will enable them to be in a stronger position to survive, thrive and grow by investing in organisational development work such as developing strategy, strengthening governance and leadership, increasing fundraising, volunteering and activism and creating a stronger voice for themselves in the women’s movement. All the funded organisations focus on either violence against women and girls or rape and sexual violence; their primary purpose is providing services directly to women and girls.
Rebecca Gill, CEO of Rosa comments:
“We’re thrilled to be able to announce the fantastic organisations who will be receiving grants as part of the Stand With Us fund. We want to thank everyone who took the time to apply, and the experts who helped us ensure that the funds will reach those who can make the biggest difference to women and girls across the country whose lives are impacted by male violence. This fund was made possible due to the brilliant initial fundraising efforts of Reclaim These Streets and we are delighted to see that effort making such a positive difference where it matters most.”
The Stand With Us fund was designed in close consultation with VAWG sector experts through an advisory group which also included representatives from Reclaim These Streets and Rosa.
Jamie Klingler, co-founder of Reclaim These Streets added:
“Seeing this through from the vigil we tried to organise in 2021 to raise awareness about the rise of violence against women at the hands of men, has been one of the most emotional and rewarding experiences of my life. There is an epidemic of violence against women, which is why it’s so important to see the money raised going towards organisations that work tirelessly to support and protect women and girls from gender-based violence. This will impact women’s lives for the better and bring us one step closer to eradicating VAWG in the UK.”
Among the organisations receiving grants are; the London-based Sophie Hayes Foundation, which supports women survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery, Amina, The Muslim Women’s Resource Centre, which provides support and advocacy to address the key issues and needs of racially minoritised women and Muslim women in Scotland, and Integrate UK, a Bristol based charity dedicated to empowering women and girls from marginalised backgrounds to become positive role models, reduce stigma and challenge VAWG and racial discrimination.
Red Godfrey Sagoo, CEO, Sophie Hayes Foundation in London comments:
“Sophie Hayes Foundation has undergone a significant period of growth over the past 3 years. Growth driven by the need to support more women survivors of human trafficking by offering independence through employability skills and access to education. However, this dramatic growth has led to a critical need for new staff training, namely, leadership and management training. With additional support for the first two survivors employed to manage CREW Survivor Network (Creative Resilient Empowered Women). Rosa’s funding enables the Foundation to develop its leadership and CREW staff, empowering each to lead with confidence.”
A survey of over 320 women’s and girls’ organisations working with and for those affected by VAWG conducted by Rosa in November 2021 showed that 89% of respondents believed violence against women and girls is one of the biggest and most under-resourced threats facing our society today.
The most recent crime statistics from police in England and Wales show that there has been a significant rise in the number of recorded sexual offences since April 2021, with 70,600 rapes reported in the year to June 2022, an increase of 20% on pre-COVID figures. There were also 912,181 domestic abuse offences recorded, 6% more than last year and 14% more than in 2019-20.
Rosa will be continuing to raise money for the Stand With Us fund, working towards a target of £1 million in donations to help empower and strengthen more frontline organisations working to end violence against women and girls.
The full list of successful Stand With Us applicants can be found HERE.
To donate or find out more about the fund visit the Just Giving Page.