: Ascent Newsletter, May: Launching the second tier needs assessment, and much more...

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Ascent Newsletter May 2018

Welcome to the May edition of the ASCENT newsletter. The Ascent newsletters aim to inform and keep you updated on the variety of issues that affect the domestic and sexual violence sector including information on future events and trainings, report on services offered as part of the Pan-London Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Consortium, present news and updates on a variety of issues that affect the domestic and sexual violence sector and promote and support the dialogue and collaboration between the statutory and voluntary sector to ensure services respond to the needs of those affected by the issues on a Pan-London basis. We hope this newsletter is useful and invite you to submit contributions to our coming editions by contacting cara@wrc.org.uk.

News from the Sector

Spotlight on Supporting Homeless Women with Multiple Needs, 28th March 2018 On 28th March, representatives from organisations across the women's and homelessness sectors came together to discuss and develop cross-sector approaches to supporting homeless women with multiple needs.  If you missed the event and would like to find out more, presentations and resources from the event can be accessed here.

Survive closes after 44 years South Gloucestershire and Bristol domestic abuse service Survive has been forced to close due to a lack of funding. Frontline workers and services will transfer to Julian House, a homelessness charity that also provides domestic abuse services.  Survive's press statement can be read on their website.

Nominations for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize Nominate women who've raised awareness and brought about change in tackling male violence for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize. You can nominate individuals or groups by filling in the forms here. Nominations close on 1st September. EVAW: 'Women Living in a Hostile Environment' A coalition of women's groups, including IKWRO, LAWRS and Southall Black Sisters, have released a briefing paper on the effects of the 'hostile environment' immigration policy on migrant women in relation to domestic and/or sexual abuse.  Read the Guardian article on the paper here.

Saving Lives and Gentoo: 'Safe at Home' Saving Lives and Gentoo, a housing association based in the North East, have produced a report on the role of the housing sector in tackling domestic abuse. The report finds that housing providers have a key role to play in tackling domestic abuse, by, for example, including perpetration of abuse as breach of tenancy. Read the full report here. LAWRS: 'We Can't Fight in the Dark' The Latin American Women's Rights Service has partnered with King's College London and others to throw light on the experiences of VAWG among Brazilian migrant women in London and Rio. Findings of the report included that: - 4 in 5 Brazilian women in London have experienced VAWG - Only 24% of those who experienced severe violence reported it to the police - Fear of deportation was identified as a barrier to reporting Read We can't Fight in the Dark here.

Policy and Legal Developments

Government considering creating specific offense to tackle 'upskirting' Justice Secretary David Gauke is reviewing the current legislation that can be applied to so-called 'upskirting', following the introduction of a Bill on the subject by Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse last month. The Bill will receive its second reading on Friday 11th May. Read the Bill here.  'Times Up for Strip Clubs' Coalition support judicial review 'Times Up for Strip Clubs' Coalition, which includes Southall Black Sisters and the Fawcett Society, are supporting legal action against Sheffield Council's unlimited strip club policy. Read more about the legal challenge and how you can help on womensgrid and the Guardian.

Domestic Violence Bill consultation to close The Ministry of Justice consultation on responses to domestic abuse will close on 31st May 2018.  If you have not already submitted your thoughts on the proposals, fill in the consultation form here.

Events

Special Event: Supporting Services, Supporting Survivors Come and celebrate the work of specialist support services for frontline VAWG organisations and learn about the findings of the Assessment of Needs report for the Ascent Second Tier Strand! WRC are holding a launch event for the report on Wednesday 20th June from 9:30am-1:30pm at the School of Economic Science, 11 Mandeville Place, London, W1U 3AJ.  This event will feature talks and workshops on the needs and challenges facing the VAWG sector, the role and value of support services to frontline organisations, and examples of best practice and ways forward. Read more and sign up on the WRC website and watch Louise Harvey-Golding, the author of the report, discuss the needs assessment here.

Priority 1: Combatting Homelessness

Policy forum: "Transforming the response to Domestic Abuse" consultation Organisation: Homeless Link and Shelter (PLUS Project) Date: 17th May 2018 Description: Come along to the next PLUS Project forum giving you the opportunity to feed into the Domestic Abuse Bill consultation. Homeless Link has written a blog post about the consultation. To book a place email London.Plus@homelesslink.org.uk.

Spotlight on Mental Health Organisation: Homeless Link and Shelter (PLUS Project) Date: 20th June 2018 Description: This event aims to bring together frontline staff and managers from the homelessness services with those working in mental health services, to share knowledge and best practice when working to support those with mental health support needs. Further details will be available on the PLUS Project web page shortly. To book a place email London.Plus@homelesslink.org.uk.

Training

Finances for Joint Projects and Consortia Organisation: Women's Resource Centre Date: 17th May 2018 Time: 10am-4pm REGISTER Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation Organisation: Women's Resource Centre Date: 14th June 2018 Time: 10am-4pm REGISTER

Domestic abuse and coercive control, understanding and awareness Organisation: Solace Women's Aid Date: 7th June 2018 Time: 9:30am-12:30pm  REGISTER Supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse Organisation: Solace Women's Aid Date: 15th June 2018 Time: 9:30am-4:30pm REGISTER

Project Management Organisation: Women's Resource Centre Date: 28th June 2018 Time: 10am-4pm REGISTER Complicated matters (CPD Accredited) – links between domestic & sexual violence, substance use and mental ill-health Organisation: AVA Date: 26th June 2018 Time: 10am-4:30pm APPLY

Trauma informed practice: a course for frontline workers (CPD accredited) Organisation: AVA Date: 5th July 2018 Time: 10am-4:30pm REGISTER

Rights of Women Upcoming Trainings 20/06/18 Helping survivors access family law legal aid – priority boroughs Camden/City/Islington 2 – 5pm King's Cross 22/06/18 Coercive control: law and developments – for practitioners in London 10 – 1pm EC2 26/06/18 Helping survivors access family law legal aid – priority boroughs Lambeth/Southwark/Lewisham 10 – 1pm Canada Water Library 28/06/18 Helping survivors access family law legal aid – priority boroughs Hackney/Newham/Tower Hamlets 10 – 1pm EC2 Booking information will be uploaded to the website ASAP. Enquiries can be made to training@row.org.uk

Jobs in the Sector

Solace Women's Aid - Clinical Supervisor Type: Self-employed (minimum of four sessions per month) Salary: £75 per session (90 minutes) Location: Various across London Closing date: Noon on Friday 11th May APPLY LAWRS - Administrator and Finance Officer (Spanish or Portuguese Speaking) Type: Full time (maternity cover) Salary: £25,500 per year  Location: London Closing date: Wednesday 16th May APPLY

nia - Senior Researcher (Femicide Census) Type: 18 hours per week. Fixed term contract for one year. Salary: £14,143 (£27,500 pro rata) Location: London Closing date: 10am, 14th May APPLY nia - Researcher (Femicide Census) Type: 14 hours per week. Fixed term contract for one year. Salary: £10,200 (£25,500 pro rata) Location: London Closing date: 10am, 14th May  APPLY

Advance - Director of Criminal Justice Services Type: Full time (35 hours per week) Salary: £45,000-£50,000 Location: London, based in Hammersmith with travel across London boroughs and limited travel nationally Closing date: 10am, 21st May  APPLY Advance - Female Community Keyworker Type: Full time (35 hours per week) Salary: £25,000 - £29,000 Location: Co-located in one or more London boroughs with travel to across boroughs to provide targeted support to women as required. Closing date: For South/West London role midnight 14th May; for North/East London role 21st May. APPLY

Solace Women's Aid - IRIS Advocate Educator Type: Full time (37.5 hours per week) Salary: £26,000-28,500 qualified; £24,500-25,500 unqualified.  Location: Enfield Closing date: Noon, 21st May  APPLY Refuge - Independent Gender Violence Advocate Type: Full time (37.5 hours per week) Salary: £26,775 - £29,500 Location: Lewisham Closing date: 20th May APPLY

What is Ascent?

Ascent is a partnership project comprised of 23 organisations, undertaken by the London VAWG Consortium. It is organised into six different partnerships that have been funded by London Councils to deliver services in the areas of sexual and domestic violence. Ascent's aim is to improve the service provision for those affected by sexual and domestic violence in London through the provision of front-line services as well as support to organisations in the voluntary and statutory sectors. The different projects delivered by Ascent are: Prevention  This strand consists of 9 partner organisations. Lead partner: Tender Education & Arts Advice, Counselling and Support to Access Services This strand consists of 14 partner organisations. Lead partner: Solace Women's Aid Domestic and Sexual Violence Helplines This strand consists of 5 partner organisations. Lead partner: Women's Aid Specialist Refuge Provision This strand consists of 4 partner organisations. Lead partner: Ashiana Network Ending Harmful Practices This strand consists of 9 partner organisations. Lead partner: Asian Women's Resource Centre Support Services to Organisations  This strand consists of 6 partner organisations. Lead partner: Women's Resource Centre For more information about the Ascent project and the London VAWG Consortium, please visit https://thelondonvawgconsortium.org.uk/