AVA e-news: March

9 March 2011	If you are having trouble viewing this email, click here.


AVA e-news: March
Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Action Plan The government action plan on VAWG was published yesterday. The action plan provides an overview of the wide range of actions the government will be taking forward with key partners to deliver its strategy to address VAWG. Key actions from the plan include: from April 2012, migrant spouses who are destitute will be given access to benefits while their indefinite leave to remain claim is being considered; new research aimed at countering the myth that false allegations of rape are common and an independent consultation on the measurement of rape conviction rates; a new national stalking group to support the work of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service in improving the police response to stalking and ensuring robust prosecutions; campaigns to raise awareness of the law around sexual offences and challenge attitudes of abuse within teenage relationships; more training for key frontline professionals - including doctors, nurses, health visitors - on identifying and dealing with violence against women; sustainable central funding for frontline services including rape crisis centres and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors, and four years of funding for the National Domestic Violence Helpline. View the document in full here. AVA would like to congratulate Southall Black Sisters, who have been campaigning for reform on no recourse to public funds for 20 years. A good reminder to us all that hard-work can pay off!
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AVA toolkits on sale! Hard copies of our toolkits are now on sale. Buy a copy for your service for just £20/£15 (statutory/voluntary). Domestic violence, drug and alcohol: good practice guidelines provides practitioners and service managers within the domestic violence and substance misuse sectors with the basic knowledge and skills they require to respond to service users safely and appropriately. It has been compiled in consultation with practitioners from both sectors and provides practical guidance, case studies and sample documents enabling workers to use the toolkit as a reference and workbook. Download order form . Sane Responses: good practice guidelines for domestic violence and mental health services aims to promote the understanding and good practice of frontline workers. It provides information on domestic violence and mental health, guidelines for good practice and details of existing services across London. Download order form.
	Free networking events in March 21 March: Using the MARAC to support domestic violence survivors and perpetrators who are affected by substance use Human Rights Action Centre, Shoreditch, London A free breakfast networking event for commissioners and practitioners in the drug and alcohol or violence against women sectors. Dr Maddy Coy will discuss her findings from an evaluation of London IDVA services and what they mean for the drug and alcohol sector; Stella Project Coordinator Shannon Harvey will discuss findings from our online surveys and interviews with London MARAC Chairs and drug and alcohol agencies; and a panel of practitioners will discuss with the audience their experiences of the MARAC process and its relevance for survivors and perpetrators affected by problematic substance use. Book your free place. 30 March: Supporting families affected by domestic abuse and substance use: a seminar for practitioners NCVO, Kings Cross, London Adfam, the University of Bedfordshire and the Stella Project present this free event, marking the end of our joint project supporting families affected by domestic violence and problematic substance use. Speakers include Dr Sarah Galvani, CASA Family Service and the Stella Project Coordinators. Book your free place.
AVA training in March and April The Links between Domestic Violence and Problematic Substance Use 24 March, London This course is specially designed for non-specialist workers who wish to gain an insight into both domestic violence and drug/alcohol sectors and whose clients may present with both issues. Participants will explore some of the myths and realities around links and causality, and the use of drugs and alcohol in abusive relationships. It will highlight the need to approach the dual issues in an integrated way through partnership working and adequate referral processes. Delegates attending this course will receive a copy of the Stella Project toolkit. Young People and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) 31 March, London This course will focus particularly on the experiences of adolescents as victims and as perpetrators of VAWG, with the inclusion of issues such as teenage pregnancy, child to parent abuse, sexual violence within a gang culture and. domestic violence in young people's own intimate relationships The course will discuss how to ask adolescents about violence, how to give advice and how to risk assess and safety plan. The course will comprise of interactive activities, group discussions and the use of films to illustrate key topics. Working with Domestic Violence Perpetrators within a Substance Misuse Agency 4 April, London This course looks at identifying domestic violence perpetrators, giving safe messages and making appropriate referrals upon identification. It will also explore theoretical perspectives around domestic violence, the links to substance misuse and the perpetrator's choice to use violence. Delegates attending this course will receive a copy of the Stella Project toolkit. Safeguarding Children - Living with Parental Substance Misuse and Domestic Violence 15 April, London This course looks at the overlapping issues of domestic violence and substance use and examines the impact of these on families, with a particular focus on safeguarding children. Participants will gain a better understanding of the factors that contribute to a 'risk of harm' to children's development when growing up with these dual issues. The course involves skill development on practice based issues such as asking questions about children, risk assessment and referral, as well as providing an oversight of the relevant legislation, policies and procedures for workers who support family members. Delegates attending this course will receive a copy of the Stella Project toolkit.
	This month on the CCRM... Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines: Female Genital Mutilation HM Government (2011) Evidence of effects of domestic violence perpetrator programmes on women's safety Respect (2010) Values, purposes and methods of identifying who is doing what to whom in intimate partner violence Respect (2010)
Notice board De-clutter and give back: benefit for Solace Women’s Aid – donations by 30 March 2011 WGIRLS announce a new campaign to de-clutter and give back! Global survey: Building women’s global meaningful participation in the High Level Meeting (HLM) on HIV and AIDS The ATHENA Network and the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS (GCWA). Deadline: Sunday 13 March. Green Paper Consultation: An Action Plan for Women Women in Prison encourages responses to this Green Paper. New domestic and sexual violence advocacy service in Barking and Dagenham This service commenced on 1 February 2011. A blueprint for UN Women: What does civil society at country level expect from the new UN women’s agency? This survey and report collects the views of civil society on the task ahead for UN Women. The research will contribute to the formulation of recommendations as to how UN Women should proceed at country level.
	Reports and publications Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Action Plan HM Government (2011) The Government Response to the Stern Review: An independent review into how rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales HM Government (2011) From Rights to Action: Using International rights and mechanisms on violence against women in the UK Rights of Women (2011) No Fixed Abode: The housing struggle for young people leaving custody in England Barnardo’s (2011) What factors are associated with recent intimate partner violence? findings from the WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence Abramsky et al. BMC Public Health Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines: Female Genital Mutilation HM Government (2011)
Consultations Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance – public consultation, Department for Work and Pensions Deadline for responses: 7 April 2011 Marital property agreements (pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements), Law Commission Deadline for responses: 11 April 2011 Retraction of rape and domestic violence allegations and prosecution of victims, Crown Prosecution Service Deadline for responses: 6 May 2011
	In the media Hollyoaks rape trial to use viewers' 'jury' Guardian, 16 February Domestic Violence incidents up 18% in London Scoop, 1 March Anne Milton reveals plans for sexual health strategy Children and Young People Now, 3 March Longer in jail for 'haven' attacks Guardian, 3 March Relaxing DNA rules could reduce rape convictions, Labour warns Guardian, 28 February Feminism's global challenge: With one voice Guardian, 6 March Forced marriages 'at record high' - South Wales Police BBC News, 8 March
Training 24 March: The Links between Domestic Violence and Problematic Substance Use AVA, London 31 March: Young People and Violence Against Women and Girls AVA, London 16 March: Protecting Children from Domestic Violence: Children and the Law Rights of Women, London 17 March: Working with Male Victims of Domestic Violence Respect, London 17 March: Marketing and Publicity Imkaan, London 24 March: South East London Funding Seminar Women's Resource Centre, London 29 March: Introduction to Measuring Outcomes Course Women's Resource Centre, London 4-8 April: Modular 5 Day Training Course - Working with Young People Using Violence in Close Relationships Respect, London 5 & 12 April: Safeguarding Against Forced Marriage and Honour-based Violence: Level 2 Imkaan, London 20 April: Using Psychological Evidence to help Traumatised Women Seek Asylum Imkaan, London
	Events 10 March: From Vision to Reality: A New Direction in Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Public Policy Exchange, London 11 March: Swishing - having a bit of a do! Womens Networking Hub, Birmingham 16 March: Cohesion, Faith and Gender Southall Black Sisters, London 26 March: Workshop For People Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse and those that Support them Into the Light, London 29 March to 12 April: Central America Women's Network speaker tour 2011 CAWN, London 31 March: Central America Women's Network 20th Anniversary Event CAWN, London 3 April: Run for Congo Women Women for Women International, London 4 May: Talking to My Mum - Developing Communication Between Mothers and Children in the Aftermath of Domestic Violence Making Research Count, London
Jobs, volunteering & internships Administration Manager and Reception-Administrator (14 March) Women and Girls Network, London Rape Crisis Sessional Counsellors, Gendered Violence Specialist Sessional Counsellors and 1x Group worker (21 March) Women and Girls Network, London Domestic and Sexual Abuse Counsellor (25 March) Newham Asian Women’s Project Honorary Counsellors (4 April) Women and Girls Network, London
What you told us ... We asked practitioners what is the best part of your job? "Meeting and connecting with people…." "to be able to empower women and girls to live their lives to the full and to make choices for themselves" "I enjoy meeting and working with women clients and making positive difference to their lives" "Making a difference to other people's lives" "To see women move forward, it makes me feel good inside".
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