Last week
the clients, staff and volunteers at A Way Out contributed to ‘Sexual Abuse and
Sexual Violence Awareness Week’. The
campaign, designed to highlight that sexual abuse and violence of any kind is
not ok, is a movement that is very close to the heart of A Way Out. As an outreach, prevention and intervention
charity working with some of the area’s most vulnerable women, young people and
families the organisation is often involved in supporting those who have
suffered in this way.
Using the
hashtag #itsnotok we encouraged women attending in our weekly drop-ins to
openly explore their own reactions to this campaign and create powerful
individual statements - ‘It’s not ok to
assume my consent’, ‘it’s not ok to be controlled’, ‘it’s not ok to live in
fear’, ‘it’s not ok to harass women in the street’, ‘it’s not ok to blame the
victim’ are just a few of the declarations the women produced. Discussing and producing these statements empowered
the women, they felt included and involved in part of a strong movement that is
recognized nationally and they felt that they had been given a voice.
It is only
by speaking out and raising awareness that we can affect change. Working in partnership A Way Out are firmly
in position across the area to offer advocacy and support, empowering our
clients to find courage in their own voice to say ‘it’s not ok’. Our staff offer a trauma informed approach
facilitating and empowering each woman towards a safe, secure and stable
future.
To support A
Way Out please go to www.awayout.co.uk
or contact 01642 655071.
