Focus on Eaves Housing for Women
Eaves is a London-based charity which has been in operation for more than 30 years, providing support for vulnerable women, and working to end male violence. At Eaves we put the needs of women first. We are determined to give a voice to the most excluded women in society and provide direct, innovative services to support and empower women to help themselves.
Our wide range of services and activities take an integrated approach to tackling many forms of violence against women, and includes the following:
The Lilith Project
The Lilith Project is a dynamic London-based organisation which works to eliminate all aspects of violence against women. We do this by campaigning for legislative change; encouraging debate; supporting other organisations in their quests to create equality for women; and by providing people with the means to object and to protest against sexism, misogyny or violence.
In line with its remit to educate and inform both the general public and the women’s sector, the Lilith Project regularly runs conferences and training sessions and participates in talks and seminars on a wide range of themes relating to violence against women. A major part of our work is to provide support and networking opportunities for the women’s sector – to enable them to keep up-to-date with new legislation, best practice and developments in the field. To this end we run the Sexual Violence Action and Awareness Network (SVAAN) – a network for voluntary and statutory agencies that provide support services to women who have been raped or sexually assaulted.
The Amina Scheme
The Amina Scheme is a unique peer-led support and befriending scheme for women who have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused at any time in their lives. It is open to women living or working in the London area.
We pair women on the scheme with specially trained volunteers – women who themselves have experienced sexual violence in the past. Volunteers meet with women once a week in a community setting to provide a listening ear, help women to talk about how they feel, and support them to access information about the effects of sexual violence. Volunteers can also provide support during court proceedings; and assist women in accessing a range of other support services.
The POPPY Project
The POPPY Project is an award-winning service which provides support, accommodation and outreach services for women trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation.
POPPY has 35 bed spaces in houses across London. Once accepted onto the project women are allocated a senior support worker and offered a range of specialist support services. These include:
o provision of a food/subsistence allowance
o a health and needs assessment
o registration with a GP in order to receive any necessary medical treatment
o access to counselling services
o access to education and English classes
o integration and/or resettlement support including, where applicable, support with the voluntary return scheme
o awareness-raising/education sessions covering areas such as equal opportunities, welfare benefits and healthy relationships
o help contacting family and friends
o support accessing legal advice, including information relating to immigration status and applications for asylum
o liaison with police and immigration services
o risk assessments and safety planning.
The POPPY Outreach Service works to improve the safety and wellbeing of women from all over the UK who have been trafficked and who are in need of short term support and advocacy. The Outreach team works in close partnership with law enforcement agencies, immigration officials and sexual health outreach projects. Workers provide short-term crisis intervention and assist women with the following:
o obtaining immigration advice
o contacting the police
o accessing healthcare and social services
o safety planning
o signposting to other relevant agencies
o reintegration and resettlement
o onward referrals.
The POPPY Outreach Service also provides training to law enforcement agencies, and statutory and voluntary sector organisations that come into contact with women who have been trafficked. This involves awareness-raising, training around the identification of women who have been trafficked and advice on ongoing practice.
POPPY Research and Development
POPPY Research and Development undertakes research, policy development, lobbying, training, awareness-raising and education on issues relating to the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation and women wishing to exit prostitution. The R&D team’s unique position of conducting research about trafficking and prostitution, alongside providing support and accommodation for women who have been trafficked into prostitution, results in a detailed and informed analysis which helps to shape public policy on these key issues.
Eaves Women’s Aid
Eaves Women’s Aid provides refuge space, outreach and support services to women and children experiencing domestic violence across London.
We have more than 50 bed spaces in safe and comfortable environments, with a full range of support provided. Women are assisted to access benefits, counselling, training, employment and new accommodation. We also provide child and family work, outreach support for women who wish to remain in their own homes, and free specialist legal services.
Eaves’ work is made possible by funding from London Councils and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (reporting to the Ministry of Justice), grants from foundations and from individual donations.
For more information about our work please visit our website: http://www.eaves4women.co.uk/ or email: post@eaveshousing.co.uk
This piece kindly contributed by Ruth Breslin of Eaves Housing for Women
this page last updated 24th November 2008