Funding Boost for the Angelou Centre
30th October 2015
The Angelou Centre has received funding to support its ‘Building Positive Lives’ project following a successful funding bid to the Supporting Victims Fund, which helps Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird strengthen victims’ services across Northumbria.
The Fenham-based charity, The Angelou Centre, which supports Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) women throughout the region, has received a cash boost of over £57,866 to provide holistic and sustained advocacy and support to women and children right across Northumbria who are victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
It aims to provide high-risk victims of abuse, including sexual, psychological and physical as well as culturally defined offences such as forced marriage, honour-based violence, sexual exploitation and domestic slavery, with a multilingual, culturally understanding service.
The funding will support a full-time outreach and support worker and a part-time specialist champion and training coordinator, to strengthen the support available to vulnerable BAMER women.
As well as these posts, the money will be used to fund a range of development and peer support and help engage with women from all minority groups.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Vera Baird, said: “The Angelou Centre shares our commitment to putting victims first and that’s why we are delighted to help them in developing their capacity to fully support the wide ranging needs of victims of domestic abuse within these communities.
“In my role as Commissioner I have consulted with thousands of residents about what issues need addressed in our area and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is one of your top concerns, which led to the development of the VAWG strategy to tackle the issue head on.
“We know that over half the vulnerable victims in Northumbria are victims of domestic abuse and there is a great deal of work that needs to be done to tackle it. We have to work hard to change attitudes that support and perpetuate the use of violence and abuse towards women and girls. We also need to make sure we’re doing all we can to protect those who are vulnerable and ensure that they have access to the right help and services for them.
“With this in mind, it’s vital we support the excellent work being carried out by organisations like The Angelou Centre which is making great progress in tackling this issue and enabling victims to get their lives back on track. I wish the project every success in making a difference to the lives of many women in our area.”
Umme Imam from The Angelou Centre said: “We are delighted to be receiving this funding award from the Police and Crime Commissioner. It will not only help to protect some of the most vulnerable and exploited black and minority ethnic (BME) women in the region but will also enable The Angelou Centre to continue its life-saving work.
“Commissioner Baird continues to recognise the considerable gaps in service provision for victims of domestic and sexual violence, including BME victims who face numerous challenges and are often unable to access mainstream services which often lack the expertise to provide specialist support.
“We applaud Commissioner Baird’s continued efforts to put violence against women and girls on the national and regional crime agenda”.
The Supporting Victims Fund has been set up to strengthen, enhance and improve victims’ services across Northumbria.
The aim of the fund is to maximise the potential of organisations to deliver vital services supporting victims of crime in the Northumbria area, helping them to cope and recover from their experience.
For more information on the Angelou Centre, visit the website www.angelou-centre.org.uk or telephone 0191 226 0394 .
For more information on Victims First Northumbria, visit the website www.victimsfirstnorthumbria.org.uk or contact the service’s dedicated Freephone number – 0800 011 3116.
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