Together Women project, Yorkshire and Humberside

On 20th November, our WRNA Project Manager participated in a significant event held by the Effective Women’s Centres Partnership (EWCP) at #UKParliament. Together Women, alongside our partners in the EWCP, has played a pivotal role in implementing the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA)—a powerful tool for collecting data and demonstrating the impact of trauma-informed, gender-specific support delivered from Women’s Centres. Drawing on this critical evidence, the EWCP engaged with MPs and Members of the House of Lords to highlight how #WomensCentresWork as a crucial solution to preventing the criminalisation of women by addressing complex needs and multiple disadvantages. Securing long-term funding for Women’s Centres is essential to improving outcomes and ensuring these vital services can continue to have a lasting impact. We’re thrilled by the support the event received and the momentum towards meaningful change! #WomensCentres #WomensJustice #PrisonIsNotTheAnswer The Nelson Trust, The Women's Centre Cornwall, Stockport Women's Centre, Salford Foundation, JABBS Foundation, Partners of Prisoners, Anawim, University of Birmingham

We spent an interesting day in Parliament yesterday – as part of an event organised by the Effective Women’s Centres Partnership – talking to MPs and Ministers, including the prisons minister, Lord James Timpson. We were able to share and celebrate the work being carried out at Women’s Centres across the country. Women’s Centres are more affordable and effective than prison, and keep women in the community, minimising disruption to their families too. Our partnership knows that with secure, long-term funding we will be able to make a real difference, and address the many root causes behind women’s offending. We know trauma is a major contributing factor. Nearly three quarters of women involved with the criminal justice system experienced abuse as a child, and more than half were abused. Our partnership is working together on a new tool to better identify the influences on, and unmet needs behind, women’s offending - the Women's Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA). Having these discussions, and being able to show that #WomensCentresWork are important steps towards creating the change we know is needed. Together Women project, Yorkshire and Humberside, The Nelson Trust, The Women's Centre Cornwall, Stockport Women's Centre, Salford Foundation, Farida Women’s Centre, University of Birmingham, JABBS Foundation, Partners of prisoners

We are at a House of Commons event today talking with MPs about how Women's Centres work when it comes to supporting women to thrive and reducing crime. Here's why... - The trauma of abuse is one of the many root causes of crime for women. Nearly three quarters of women involved with the criminal justice system have experienced abuse as a child and over half were abused as a child. Women's Centres offer support which recognises the natural process of trauma and how it can impact a woman’s life, giving space for her to heal and thrive as part of her community. - As well as trauma, many women find their way into crime through substance use, anxiety, depression and financial problems. Women's Centres support women on their journey away from crime by allowing them to overcome the unique reasons behind why they may have offended. - When women are referred to Women's Centres instead of prison, they are kept with their families and children, reducing generational trauma. - Women’s Centres support women when they are in crisis which reduces the pressure on the NHS, police and social care services. The Effective Women's Centres Partnership is a collaboration between Anawim, Farida Women's Centre Oldham, The Nelson Trust, Salford Women's Centre, Together Women project, Yorkshire and Humberside, The Women's Centre Cornwall, University of Birmingham and The JABBS Foundation. Together we are pioneering a new tool to identify historic factors and current unmet needs behind women's offending - the Women's Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA). By acting locally and learning nationally, Women's Centres are established and proven routes away from crime. #WRNA #EffectiveWomensCentrePartnership #WomensCentresWork #WomenInPrison #CJS #HouseOfCommons

#WomensCentresWork! With other members of the Effective Women’s Centre Project we're heading to Parliament this week to meet MPs and members of the House of Lords to share how Women’s Centres like Together Women reduce re-offending, support women in crisis and improve outcomes for them and their families. We're looking forward to sharing our research, expertise and the voices of women we've supported - because all women should be able to access support from a women's centre when they need it. #WomensCentres #CharitySector #WomensJustice #GenderHealthGap #MentalHealthSupport