For 40 years BSWA has provided front line domestic abuse support services to women and children in the Birmingham and Solihull area.
They challenge the inequality and abuse that result from women’s position in society, providing services and resources that unlock women’s power and enable them to regain their confidence and skills to achieve their aspirations.
They strongly believe that all of society has a role to play in bringing an end to domestic abuse.
BSWA advocate for the rights of ALL women 💜
You can support their Christmas campaign right now, providing gifts for women and children living in refuge. For gift lists, and ways to buy gifts directly, donate or raise money through the Go Lilac campaign, visit their website 💜🎄💜
Ways to support and get involved directly with our fundraising will be posted in the new year ✊
BSWA have supported FWFC from the start, and through this support we have continued to learn from their expertise, enabling us to develop our work and to make the most of our skills.
Photo credit: Early refuge photo, courtesy of Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid
We are currently working to make the digital download of This isn’t what love should feel like easily accessible to students and staff at UK universities. Do you work at a university? Help us get this resource to the right people!
This isn’t what love should feel like has been produced by FWFC working with Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid and writer Nafeesa Hamid. The aim of this resource is to help more people to understand and recognise domestic abuse, and to access support. It combines factual information with poetry, myth busting, helplines, advice on how to offer support to someone who may be experiencing domestic abuse, and what to do if you are worried about your own relationship. The resource is also a call to action, aiming to change the outdated conversation around domestic abuse. It offers ideas and guidance useful to anyone of any gender who wants to be an ally, and join the movement to end domestic abuse.
The free pdf of This isn’t what love should feel like can be easily uploaded to the university intranet and other digital spaces accessed by students and staff. The resource can work alongside any existing provision or procedures that your university has in place to support people experiencing domestic abuse.
To help you make This isn’t what love should feel like part of your university’s health & wellbeing support offer, contact Katy for more information.
Our domestic abuse awareness raising zine This isn’t what love should feel like has been going out far and wide to individuals, groups, organisations and workplaces in Birmingham and up and down the UK.
If you would like a copy (or copies) of the zine, get in touch. Zines, postage and packing are all free of charge.
We are very keen to push the digital download of This isn’t what love should feel like to UK universities. If you work at a university or college and would like more information to help you to promote the zine, please contact Katy here.
For those seeking help and support, the zine includes helpline and webchat service information for Birmingham, the West Midlands and UK wide, which you can also find here.
Ending domestic abuse is everyone’s responsibility. Just knowing more about domestic abuse can help to change things.
This isn’t what love should feel like is generously supported by Arts Council England.
The campaign features new poetry by Birmingham based poet Nafeesa Hamid and contributions from BSWA, along with helplines, factual information, myth busting and ways you can join the movement to end domestic abuse. It also includes advice about how to offer support to someone who may be experiencing domestic abuse, and what to do if you are worried about your own relationship.
Do you need someone to talk to? Access free, confidential helplines and webchat services in Birmingham, the West Midlands and UK wide.
If you’re worried about your partner seeing what you have looked at online, use ‘private browsing mode’ on your phone or device, which won’t save your search history. You can find more information about keeping safe online here.
Most websites offering support for domestic abuse have an ‘exit page’ button that will close the webpage quickly.
Birmingham & the West Midlands
Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid Confidential helpline: 7 days a week, 9.15am to 5.15pm 0808 800 0028 Webchat: Mon-Fri 10am – 4pm https://bswaid.org info@bswaid.org
The Mix – Essential support for under 25s Confidential helpline: 7 days a week, 3pm – 12am 0808 808 4994 Webchat: 7 days a week, 3pm – 12am https://www.themix.org.uk/ Crisis messenger: (24/7) text THEMIX to 85258
If something doesn’t feel right, there are people out there who will listen and who will believe you. When you pick up the phone to speak to someone, we will believe what you say, and take it from there to support you in whatever way you need. Anna, BSWA
Feminists Work for Change 