CHARITIES supporting women who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence, modern slavery and complex challenges have each been awarded funds to support women and girls across the West Midlands.
Heart of England Community Foundation announced it has awarded £10,000 to Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, WE:ARE Women’s Empowerment and Recovery Educators, Black Country Women’s Aid and Anawim – Birmingham’s Centre for Women from its Women and Girls Fund.
The Foundation is also backing calls for the government to create a specific fund which supports women and girls nationally.
The announcement was made on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which marks the start of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and calls for global solidarity to end violence against women and girls everywhere.
The fund was established to provide donation to a range of women and girls projects across the region – with 10 charities all receiving £10,000.
All three of the charities in Birmingham will be using the funds to cover the cost of core services, staffing and launching new vital support services.
The Foundation launched the Women and Girls Fund after identifying a significant decline in the funding available specifically for organisations supporting women and girls.
After seeding it with £50,000 from its own funds, the Foundation opened it for donations and raised its £100,000 target within just four months.
Tina Costello, chief executive of the Foundation, said: “While things have improved, it’s clear that we still have an incredibly long way to go for women and girls to achieve equality.
“That’s why I’m extremely pleased that the Foundation has distributed £100,000 to organisations across the West Midlands which are providing vital support services to women and girls.
“While all of the organisations we have awarded funding to are slightly different, all of them are helping to create better lives and drive change.
“Although the funds have been distributed, our work doesn’t stop here, and we will continue to support organisations which help women and girls on a local level. But I would love to see the government recognise that we need a national women and girls fund to help organisations right across the UK.”
