Charity gets £88k from fund to help abused women
THE fund set up as a result of the Time’s Up and #MeToo movements has awarded more than £1m to help women who have experienced sexual harassment and abuse – including nearly £90,000 to Welsh Women’s Aid.
The Justice and Equality Fund, which is supported by celebrities such as Emma Watson, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jodie Whittaker, has awarded £1,027,699 in grants through the Advice and Support programme to resource seven women’s organisations in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The organisations are working to provide advice and support to women who have experienced sexual harassment.
It comes on the heels of the £24,000 the fund gave to 12 women’s organisations who are working to change and reframe the conversation around sexual harassment.
Grants include £194,168 to Rights Of Women for a free, confidential helpline led by female lawyers offering specialist legal advice to women experiencing sexual harassment.
Welsh Women’s Aid – a charity working to end domestic abuse and violence against women – has been awarded £88,484 to provide training that will increase the knowledge and skill of women’s support services across Wales.
Harry Potter actress Watson, who made a £1m donation to the fund earlier this year, said: “This first round of Justice and Equality Fund grants is pivotal in supporting the dynamic work of vital UK women’s organisations like London Black Women’s Project, who provide specialist advice and support to women of colour and migrant survivors of abuse.”
She added: “A huge thank you to each and every member of the public, and colleagues from my own industry, who have already donated.
“Much more needs to be raised so please give what you can, financial support is an instrumental act of solidarity with under-resourced organisations and campaign groups.
“Time’s Up UK will continue to work in unity with women’s rights and equality movements to campaign for systemic change. This year is just the beginning.”
Knightley said she was “so excited” to see the results of the journey to set up the fund.
“I hope we can continue to raise funds to support more of the frontline organisations doing such critical work with women and girls across the UK.”
The fund is being managed by Rosa, the UK Fund for Women and Girls.
Its executive director Samantha Rennie said: “For far too long, women facing sexual harassment and abuse have faced a postcode lottery. Specialist support services are patchy and stretched, leaving many women with nowhere to turn for help.
“These grants will help ensure that no-one is left unsupported when they have been harassed.
“We’re delighted that so many individuals and Time’s Up have reached out in solidarity to make this happen. But we need to do more – to get these services on a stable footing, and tackle the culture that means abusers can act with impunity.”