1. Maria Sookias – Head of Operations
~Annie Huggett Local suffragette. Working class hero

2. Welcome Introductions Working together

3. What do these women have in common?

4. What we will cover Nia’s history/herstory An overview of VAWG
An overview of support services
How you can get involved
Your chance to ask questions

5. nia nia was established in 1975 (originally Hackney Women’s Aid)
Challenging all forms of VAWG
Provide services for women, children and young people who have experienced violence and abuse
Feminist Organisation
Empowering women and girls - Activism

6. Why feminism?
2 women a week in England and Wales are killed every week by a current or former partner (ONS, 2015)
Between 2009 and 2015, 936 women have been killed by men (Femicide Census, 2016)
1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their life time (Crime survey, 2013/14)

7. Why feminism?
1 in 5 women aged has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16 (ONS/HO, 2013)
31% of young women aged report having experienced sexual abuse in childhood (NSPCC, 2011)
Conviction rates for rape are far lower than other crimes, with only 5.7% of reported rape cases ending in a conviction of the perpetrator (Kelly, Lovett & Regan, 2005)

8. Children
20% of children in the UK have been exposed to domestic abuse (Radford et al. NSPCC)
In 90% of domestic violence incidents in family households, children were in the same or the next room (Hughes, 1992)
62% of children in households where domestic violence is happening are also directly harmed (SaferLives, 2015)

9. What is VAWG Rape Sexual assault Domestic violence FGM
Honour Based Violence
Forced Marriage
Harmful practice eg:Exorcism / talisman/ Breast Ironing
Prostitution/pornography
Online abuse/exploitation/grooming
Outing

10. A global problem
Globally, 1 in 3 women will experience violence at the hands of a male partner (State of the World’s Fathers Report, MenCare 2015)

11. Services at Huggett Women’s Centre

12. Huggett - Practicalities
Referrals pan-London
Dagenham Zone 5- accessible station
On the main road- Good lighting
No parking available. Call in advance to book
Women only space. Boys welcome under 11.

13. Services at Huggett Women’s Centre
Counselling Rooms
Chill out room
Meeting rooms
Crèche
Small external play
Café
Laundry IT
Black and minority ethnic

14. Services at Huggett Women’s Centre
Women’s empowerment group
Girls empowerment work group
Drop-ins – come in for a cuppa
East London Rape Crisis (Helpline and counselling services)
Play therapy (boys and girls under 11) (recruiting)
LEA Project (London Exiting and Advocacy)
Legal Advice – Family Law

15. Specialist Services and Partners
Our Partners
BDCVS
DABD
Ashiana BME 121 and group work
Respond Specialist Learning disabled 121 and group support
Lillywhite Williams – Legal advice- Family Law and Children
Adult College
(other partners pending)

16. Meet the rest of the team
Centre Coordinator
Caretaker/Cleaner
Lead Group Worker
Partnership and training coordinator
Steering Group
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer team (15 over 2 years)
Women and Girls- service user group
Women’s Engagement Officer

17. How to make a referral
Drop-in: No referral needed. Just come along Tuesdays or Thursday 2-4
Group work: via drop-in, post or ed. Please note we are taking referrals for assessment in January, and group work to begin in February.
Legal Advice: Drop-in every other Tuesday morning
East London Rape Crisis: Tel:
Partner services and special events – via Drop-in or newsletter

18. Contact Details HWC@niaendingviolence.org.uk
nia-Huggett Women’s Centre
Heathway
Dagenham
London
RM9 5AF
Tel:
Follow Huggett Women’s Centre on and Facebook

19. Thanks for listening
Here for the next hour to chat 

20. Support us
Donations to nia can be made at:
Don’t forget to say ‘yes’ to gift aid. 
Or support us by buying a lottery ticket