News

Jobs: Wearside Women in Need

Wearside Women in Need has a new Board of Trustees and Chief Executive, and together they are in the process of modernising services and expanding the partnership arrangements. WWiN are recruiting the following positions:

Shout-Up! Newcastle

This weekend, 8 new venues from Newcastle joined Shout-Up! as Ambassador venues. Shout-Up! asks everyone to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment, making our bars, pubs and clubs safer places for women and men. Shout-Up! was conceived by Newcastle City Council's Safe Newcastle, Crystlsd and Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland and launched in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 2017.Teams from all venues have received training, participated in workshops and are committed to creating sexual harassment-free zones in our city.

UK's welfare system is cruel and misogynistic, says UN expert after damning report on poverty

Last week, The Times reported that Britain’s welfare system is so sexist it may as well have been compiled by “a group of misogynists in a room,” a UN expert has claimed. Philip Alston, the UN’s rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, warned that poverty in the UK is a “political choice” and that compassion and concern had been “outsourced” in favour of tax cuts for the rich. Alston was particularly critical of universal credit

Women's Groups tell Education Secretary: Sex Education plans will fail girls

A leading Coalition of women’s organisations has written to Education Secretary Damian Hinds MP saying that the Government’s ‘Relationships and Sex Education’ proposals are poor and will fail girls unless significantly amended and joined up to other school policies. Women’s groups fear that if implemented the proposed ‘Relationships and Sex Education’ statutory guidance will be a missed opportunity to ensure schools are part of efforts to end and prevent abuse of women and girls. Read more on the End Violence Against Women Coalition website.

Bill to reduce restraint becomes law

The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) bill has been given Royal Assent and is now law. Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive of Agenda says: “We are extremely pleased that this vital law aimed at reducing restraint has passed. It has the potential to change lives and may even save them. Our research shows that women and girls are restrained at disproportionate rates – with an alarming number dying after being restrained.

Survivors and mental health

Listen to the latest SafeLives Spotlight podcast, Survivors and mental health services, where Jessica Southgate from Agenda talks about how mental health services are treating women.

Violence against women and girls: Istanbul Convention progress report

The Home Office has published the second progress report on the UK's ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul convention), which describes actions taken since the publication of the first report in 2017. The progress report provides a breakdown of progress by the four nations relating to the prosecution, protection and prevention of violence against women and girls.

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland Group Work

Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland is running a 6-week evening group from mid-February 2019 in central Newcastle. This group is for any woman aged 16 or over who lives, works or studies in the Newcastle area and has experienced sexual violence at any time in her life. The group offers a safe, supportive space to meet other women, explore myths around sexual violence and practice self-care and positive coping mechanisms. For further information, please call 0191 2220272 or email enquiries@rctn.org.uk.

Government increases funding for rape and sexual abuse victims

Specialist rape and sexual abuse support services will receive a £800,000 (10%) boost to help more victims across England and Wales under government plans announced on Wednesday 7^th November 2018. The additional funding – now totalling £24 million over the next 3 years – will go towards vital services providing advice, support and counselling to help victims cope with and, as far as possible, recover from these devastating crimes.

£22 million for projects to support domestic abuse survivors

Housing Minister confirms 63 projects across England to share £22 million to help domestic abuse survivors. Funding will provide tailored support to more than 25,000 survivors and their families – including 2,200 additional beds in refuges and other safe accommodation.

North East Women's Network