Work We Have Done So Far
We have spent the last two years refining our model, here are some things we have delivered that we are particularly proud of. We’ve taken the lessons we’ve learned and now we’re building a new model.
Intersectional Feminist Bootcamp
Issue
We want everyone to be able to learn about feminism - and we wanted there to be a place where people could go together to learn about intersectional feminism. We also think that movements can fall apart unless people’s learning is taken seriously and allows for all those in the movement to have a shared language and understanding.
What have we done
We ran two multi-day Intersectional Feminist Bootcamps - one for 16-18 year olds and one for everyone over 18, we covered core feminist theory, training on running feminist campaigns and brought in external speakers. We partnered with local authorities, domestic abuse shelters and migrant and refugee organisations to provide scholarship places to anyone who wanted one.
What have we planned?
We want IFBC to be an annual flagship event! If you want to attend one, please register your interest here (hyperlink to sign up)
Some Women Need to Walk
Issue
During lockdown, the nation was told to stay at home - but home is the least safe place for survivors in domestic abuse. We were frustrated that there were no plans of support made - so we decided to launch a campaign calling for the government to fund additional accommodation for women fleeing or wanting a break from abuse.
What have we done
We built 80,000 supporters mobilised into action and 13 local actions - from the south coast to the Scottish Highlands. Our team of volunteer researchers enacted hundreds of FOIs, engaged 2/3 of MPs, and local groups across the country investigated what was happening in local areas - to our horror, two thirds of local authorities bought any additional beds during lockdown, (even though calls to domestic abuse helplines were skyrocketting), and many local authorities didn’t even know how many beds were available or used.
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We looked at how many were accessible for children, wheelchair users, or for communities who need specialist services (like Kosher or Halal food). The Independent covered our research (read The Independant article here). Some of our teams developed further - our Kent group, led by school girls, met their MP and agreed a review of domestic abuse services and for her to become our first MP champion.
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Even before the pandemic, 2 out of 5 women who got so far as to ask to go were turned away from refuges, and as our research showed, even when money was released into the system, it plugged gaps rather than financed much-needed additional services. That’s when we knew a bigger strategy was needed.
What have we planned?
Now, we’re launching teams locally to do a review of their local domestic abuse provision - what is there, and who is using it - and running a national survivor listening campaign. If you want to join us in building it, please register HERE.
Issue
Every year on results day, half of all young people celebrate as they accept their places into university. But we know that university is not always a safe space for women, minoritised ethnic groups, differently-abled people, or/ and members of the LGBT community - all of whom are disproportionately effected by sexual harassment and assault.
We know that 3 out of 5 women at university will experience sexual assault.
And just 2% of students who are assaulted both come forward to get support and then feel satisfied with the response that they get from their university.
What have we done
We work in partnership with universities who want to offer their community the very best in terms of prevention and response to sexual abuse.
In 2020, we released research into the experiences of over 8,000 students. This research was the first of its kind as it broke down the experiences of student survivors depending on their identity and circumstance. This means we learned things like 71% of make survivors deal with their assault totally alone and that Black and minority ethnic students are twice as likely to be sexually assaulted in places of learning
We worked with SOAS university to pilot a holistic approach to this, which was trauma informed, survivor centered and intersectional.
What have we planned?
Over the next two years we’re building a survivor survey, with local teams across the country mapping and changing what happens in their areas. For more information, visit the Empowered Campus website
