FIVE organisations working to support vulnerable women in Coventry through the pandemic are today on International Women’s Day celebrating a £633,240 “lifeline” to help meet “overwhelming demand”.
Coventry Women’s Partnership, which aims to improve financial outcomes for women in Coventry, has been awarded the funding from The Smallwood Trust.
Led by Foleshill Women’s Training (FWT) in partnership with Coventry Haven Women’s Aid, Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC), Central England Law Centre Coventry and Kairos WWT, the partnership will continue to deliver the project to women across the city for the next three years until December 2023.
Faye Pettitt, Coventry Women’s Partnership Manager, (left), and Christine McNaught, CEO of FWT (right).
Christine McNaught, FWT’s chief executive officer, said: “Securing this funding is a lifeline for women and the women’s sector in Coventry. It also demonstrates the importance of the Voluntary Sector’s role in generating significant income for the city.
“It is incredible to able to celebrate that we are fully funded to continue, at a time when there has been such an increased demand on our services, and we have all faced overwhelming challenges. I want to thank The Smallwood Trust for their continued belief in our work, and to all our partners who are fiercely dedicated to supporting women.”
Faye Pettitt, Coventry Women’s Partnership Manager said: “It has been a privilege to work within such an innovative project for women across the city, and I am so pleased that as a partnership we are able to continue and develop Coventry Women’s Partnership.
“Over the next three years, we will work collectively to break down barriers in access to crucial services and aim to make access to support easier, ensuring women in the city access timely support. There is a huge demand for the specialist services for women that partners offer.
“We expect challenges and demands to continue and the continuation of Coventry Women’s Partnership is much needed to further meet the needs and experiences of women across Coventry.”
The funding follows a successful three-year pilot by the group, which supported more than 800 women, and received international recognition for its work through the publication of six reports by The Women’s Budget Group into the positive impact of the project.
Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South, said: “It is fantastic news that Coventry Women’s Partnership has secured funding to support women in the city.
“This partnership has already carried out vital work during its successful pilot project, from supporting women to access services to carrying out research showing the impact of covid-19 on women in Coventry.
“In the years ahead, I look forward to supporting the partnership in tackling the challenges and injustices women face in Coventry.”
The partnership addresses the major challenges women faced accessing and engaging with support services.
Through referrals, across the partnership, women will receive integrated support in 11 key areas including: • education, Training, and routes to employment • confidence building, • support in managing finances, • health & wellbeing Support, • improved and easier access to services, • counselling for rape, sexual violence and abuse, • domestic violence and abuse, • pathways to exiting sex work, homelessness & addiction, • staying safe from sexual exploitation, • language support, • access to childcare
Emma Crump, The Smallwood Trust’s head of evaluation said: “The Smallwood Trust is excited to see The Coventry Women’s Partnership project continue and evolve at a time when it has never been more important to support women to improve their financial resilience. Over the next three years we look forward to working with the Partnership and wider stakeholders in Coventry to learn and test how the model can be replicated and sustained.”
To find out more about the project go here.
WHO ARE THE 5 PARTNER WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS IN COVENTRY AND WHAT SUPPORT DO THEY OFFER?
FWT
Based in Foleshill, this is an award-winning woman only organisation with 31 years’ experience of removing barriers facing women from Coventry and the surrounding areas.
It offers a culturally sensitive and appropriate place for all women to access Education, Training, Healthcare and Employment Opportunities, and be empowered & enabled in moving forward.
Coventry Law Centre
Founded in 1976 to reduce social exclusion in Coventry, Central England Law Centre Coventry provides free specialist legal advice to those most in need; partners with local organisations to raise awareness of people’s rights; and uses legal processes to fight poverty, inequality, and discrimination.
The Law Centre continues to support people facing poverty/hardship, insecure housing, loss of employment, those caring for people with long-term illness or disability and those affected by domestic violence, mental health issues, and breakdown in family support.
Coventry Haven Women’s Aid
A specialist provider of services to women who have or are being subjected to any form of domestic violence and abuse. Coventry Haven Women’s Aid offer a range of services and projects, including safe refuge accommodation, SafeToTalk helpline, web chat service, practical and emotional support, community outreach support, IRIS GP Support, FGM, Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse support, Ask Me Ambassador training, plus guidance and training to professionals.
CRASAC
Coventry Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre provides specialist helpline services, counselling, and advocacy support to all those who have been affected by rape or sexual violence.
Their frontline specialist, independent and confidential services are for people of all ages, genders, faiths and cultures who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any time in their lives. It also promotes the needs and voices of victims and survivors through training and awareness raising.
Kairos WWT
This well-established organisation works to increase the safety, stability, and self-belief of women in Coventry affected by or at risk of exploitation, through emotional and practical support, advocacy and awareness raising. KairosWWT reaches out to groups of women who are perceived as marginalised, vulnerable, experience multiple complex needs and who may be caught up in sex work.
