WWA respond to VAW Strategy

WWA have responded to the Home Office consultation document 'Together we can end Violence against Women and Girls'.

The response was written after considering the questionnaires returned to us by our member groups, other women’s organisations in Wales, women experiencing domestic abuse and members of the public.  A separate WWA response has been written to incorporate the information and ideas from the 12 focus groups that we facilitated across Wales.

WWA warmly welcomes and supports this integrated strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, an approach that we have lobbied for and that the CEDAW committee required of UK governments in 1999 and 2008.  WWA have been an active member of the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) campaign group and we have been supporting calls for the Home Office and the Welsh Assembly Government to develop their own integrated Violence against Women strategy to tackle all forms of violence – domestic abuse, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, stalking, honour-based violence, trafficking, rape and sexual violence.

Click here to read WWA's full response.

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WWA No longer requesting PoVA checks

WWA have recently attended specialist training by the CRB.  Following discussions with CRB staff, WWA will no longer be  requesting PoVA checks for staff, volunteers and trustees of member groups.

PoCA checks will continue to be processed for staff, volunteers and trustees of member groups due to the protection of vulnerable children's element of service provision. Model job descriptions can be found on the members area of the WWA website.

A briefing has been sent out to all member groups - please ensure the briefing is circulated to all staff in order for them to fully understand the significant change in WWA processes which will come into effect from 3rd July 2009.  If you have any queries, please contact Sally Shepherd or click here for more information.

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New CRB Code of Practice

The CRB launched its revised Code of Practice for recipients of Disclosure information on 6th April 2009.
 
The Code is intended to ensure that information released will be used fairly and is handled and stored appropriately. All organisations registered with the CRB are bound by the provisions of the Code of Practice, which is issued under section 122 of Part V of the Police Act 1997.

The previous Code of Practice was produced at the inception of the CRB and was first published in 2001. Since then there have been a number of key legislative changes, such as the Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Registration) Regulations 2006 which placed mandatory conditions on Registered/Umbrella Bodies.

The new Code of Practice brings together all of the legislative changes which have come into force since 2001 into one document for easy reference and clearly outlines the eight key obligations for Registered/Umbrella Bodies.

Click here to download the new Code of Practice.  Please make sure all previous copies of the Code of Practice are destroyed.

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WWA plays a role in UK No Recourse campaign
group

Over recent months WWA have been involved in the UK No Recourse campaign, working alongside other organisations including Southall Black Sisters, Imkaan, WAFE, Scottish Women's Aid, Amnesty, Women's Resource Centre, Refuge, BAWSO and Ashiana, in response to the Home Office Scheme which was due to go live on the 9th June.

On the 21st May, WWA Legal Issues Co-ordinator joined other organisations from the campaign to meet with Alan Campbell MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, to raise joint concerns over the proposals and how how they will be monitored.

We are pleased to announce that the Home Office are now considering the concerns raised, and the scheme has not been launched to date.  We will keep our members and other organisations in Wales updated on this important issue.

Please click here for further information.

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Big Lottery Fund – Secret Millionaire Fund

The Big Lottery Fund has provided £1 million to support a
new scheme built upon the TV programme The Secret Millionaire.

The Big Lottery Fund and The Secret Millionaire have teamed up to give viewers of the programme a chance to act on charitable inspiration fuelled by the show. Lottery funding worth £1 million has been lined up, with grants available between £300 and £10,000 from the Secret Millionaire Fund.

The eligibility rules for funding are the same as Awards for All, with grants in Wales being given for up to £5,000. Applications can be made directly by organisations or by nominating a local organisation.  The scheme will close on 21 December 2009.

More info available about this and other group funding opportunities on the Members News pages of the website.

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Statistics Report 2008-09

Groups will now all have been sent requests for Annual Returns for April 2008 – March 2009.

It is extremely important that groups provide as much statistical data to WWA as possible, to ensure that we are able to inform the WAG and other key stakeholders, as well as giving credence to the services that WWA member groups provide to service users across Wales.

WWA groups' help is vital in order for the information we collate to be both accurate and representative of all our services and the women and children who use them.  The data collected can then be used to help improve service provision.

If you have any questions about data, or would like more information about the data collected by WWA, please contact Kirstie Pavey.

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Women’s Institute VAW Research

As part of their “No more violence against women” campaign, the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) commissioned research by Bristol University to look at violence against women in rural and urban areas.

The report, which was published on 3 June 2009, found that violence and abuse was as common among rural women as among those living in urban areas.  However, despite this, rural women were less likely to perceive violence as happening frequently in their communities, and nearly three-quarters said the issue was not openly discussed. This research demonstrates the need for more support in remote areas.

The NFWI is also calling for a nationwide awareness-raising campaign to publicise the reality of VAW, rather than allowing myths to continue, and to highlight what support is available.
 
For more information about the WI and the campaign, visit the WI website or download the full report from the WWA website

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Women in London Survey Results

On 28th May, Women in London repeated the survey that they carried out prior to elections held in May 2008.

The survey was distributed primarily to women working and volunteering in women’s groups around the UK, and asked questions similar to those in the 2008 survey to see whether women’s attitudes had changed in the past 12 months. Topics included core funding, the recession, and the current allegations against members of Parliament mis-claiming on expenses.

Key results relating to VAW and Women’s Services:

• 38% of those asked believed that it would be better if primary women’s services, such as rape crisis centres, were funded as a result of a national policy with central funding distributed nationally. (In 2008, this figure was 36%.)

COSLA and the Scottish Government launch
blueprint to tackle violence against women

On 1st June, the Scottish Government and COSLA launched ‘Safer Lives, Changed Lives – A Shared Approach to Tackling Violence Against Women in Scotland’.

The report outlines how the Government, local authorities and key support agencies will work together to tackle all forms of violence against women.

The report aims to increase the focus on prevention as well as considering how best to support those who are experience violence and abuse.  It also incorporates the of the Gender Equality Duty, as well as contextualising itself within an international context of VAW and incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

For more information click here.

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Wales Women's National Coalition re-launch

WWA attended the WWNC re-launch on the 9th June at the Senedd.

This was an opportunity for WWA to see the new WWNC website, logo materials and conference report.  Speakers included Eleanor Burnham AM, Joyce Watson AM, Angela Burns AM, Leanne Wood AM and a closing address by the Minister for Social Justice and Equality, Dr. Brian Gibbons.

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WWA team continues to expand

The WWA team continues to grow with the successful recruitment and appointment of a Review & Monitoring Officer.  Sabine Grun joins us from Rhondda Women's Aid, and will provide service evaluation of group's that WWA are the Accredited Support Provider (ASP) for.

We also have a new Children's Services Development Worker for South Wales Central in post.  Ami Willcox will be working with Caerphilly, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and BAWSO Women's Aid groups.

And our Communication's Coordinator Amy Kitcher also returns to work this week, following maternity leave.

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WWA staff to take part in the Race for Life

On the 8th July, WWA are teaming up with Cardiff Women's Aid to take part in the Race for Life.  Staff, including Chief Executive Paula Hardy, will run, jog or walk the 5km route around Bute Park in Cardiff to raise money for Cancer Research UK.  For further information on the event or to sponsor us please visit our Race for Life sponsorship page.

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 Training is available to Women's Aid groups and outside organisations.

Upcoming training: 

New mental health training 'for everyone'
Delivered by WWA

This course is designed for anyone who would like more understanding of mental health issues.  Front line workers in Wales often have to deal with people with experience of mental distress, but lack the skills and confidence to support them appropriately.

With one in four of us affected by mental health problems each year, service providers across Wales are being offered a new short training course to deal more effectively with these challanges.

The 12 hour course does not train you to be a therapist, counsellor or mental health professional. But it will teach you to:

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  Course dates:

23rd-24th June 2009 - Cardiff
30th June-1st July 2009 - Llanrwst
16th-17th July 2009 - Llanrwst 

£85+VAT

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PLUS...coming soon CRB form-filling workshops


For further information or booking forms contact Becky Jones on 02920 390874 or log in to the members area of the WWA website.

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Accredited Training

Welsh Womens Aid has the following units in the accredited training portfolio. These units are at varying levels, depending on knowledge and experience.

Welsh Womens Aid can deliver these units in house or by running a course, we are flexible depending on numbers.

Welsh Womens Aid has accredited trainers across Wales and can offer training at a local level.

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Understanding Domestic Violence and Related Services - Levels 1, 2 & 3

Each worth 3 credits and amounts to a total of 30 hours work, which includes specified training, directed self study and the submission of a portfolio.

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Domestic Violence Awareness - Levels 2 & 3

Each worth 1 credit, which equates to 10 hours work including specified training, directed self study and the submission of a portfolio.

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Forced Marriage - Levels 1, 2 & 3
Each unit has 3 credits. These units are delivered by BAWSO, for more information contact Lorraine@bawso.org.uk

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Training the Trainer - Level 3
Worth 3 credits and amounts to a total of 30 hours work, which includes specified training, directed self study and the submission of a portfolio.

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Welsh Womens Aid is working with Open College Network Wales, the Scottish, Northern Irish and English Women’s Aid Federations to develop further units.

For more information on courses and costs,  please contact Colette Morgan, Accreditation Project Co-ordinator.