A Wolverhampton based organisation, First Abide, is supporting an Arts Council England funded project this weekend to raise awareness about domestic violence. On 3rd November at the Clarendon Hotel in Wolverhampton the 1in3 Project (It`s Our Right) are holding a celebration day featuring local artists and survivors of domestic abuse sharing powerful stories to raise awareness about gender based violence. This event will be followed by an art exhibition between 4th - 7th November in the Mander Centre Community Hub featuring powerful artwork and the public`s response to gender based violence featuring renowned artists.
The aims of the 1in3 Project (It`s Our Right) are working toward realising women`s empowerment and gender equality including protecting the rights and improving the lives of women, girls and the LGBTQIA Community.
Project Manager Diyodi Devinda Menon said "We are called 1in3 because 1 in 3 women will experience gender based violence in their lifetime. This equates to around 736 million who are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner."
In the UK over 2 million women are estimated to be victims of male violence each year, an epidemic that the government and police chiefs have branded a "national emergency". According to figures published by the National Police Chiefs` Council in July, at least one in 12 women in England and Wales will be a victim of crimes including stalking, harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence each year. However - this may be an underestimate because even the report states "We know much crime goes unreported and in policing we often only see the tip of the iceberg".
Nicole Jacobs, appointed in 2019 as the first Domestic Abuse Commissioner, has said that domestic abuse incidents account for 1 in 3 violent crimes recorded by police and a fifth of annual murders while 30% of people on probation are current or previous perpetrators of domestic abuse. One woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex every 5 days in England and Wales according to the charity Refuge. The police receive a domestic abuse-related call every 30 seconds.
First Abide is a Christian non profit organisation supporting people in need, vulnerable people and those less privileged in our society with a view to raise their standard of living through benevolent acts of empowerment projects and also providing safe space to deliver various befriending mental health and emotional wellbeing therapeutic activities, workshops, events and short courses.
"The First Abide team facilitates creative writing, poetry and crafting therapeutic workshops" explained Fae Delaney (pictured) from First Abide "where they support and come alongside people to learn self care strategies to help maintain a positive and more balanced mental health and emotional wellbeing and empower them to finding solutions to navigate through stress, life challenges and past negative experiences. The quote of "grow through what you go through" by Richard Rohr sums up some of what is encouraged in the workshops".
Previous projects by First Abide include:
(1) Hidden Treasure Project Helping people process and discover who they are and their selfworth and go further and discover their purpose in life. First Abide help people go on a journey of self discovery and find what`s hidden within them whether its creativity, talents or resilience to bounce back out of difficult seasons. They begin to discover that hidden treasure within.
(2) Housing Project Housing the homeless and collaborating with other charities supporting or housing the homeless.
(3) Winter Coats project In partnership with ROC charity and in collaboration with Together in Pennfields Project and Wolverhampton City Council.
(4) Community Christmas Dinner In collaboration with Wolverhampton City Council, family hubs, Social Care and Cost of Living Support.
Further information:
Website: http://www.firstabide.com
Email: info@firstabide.com
