Nearly 400 Women Experiencing Abuse Visit Birmingham Charity in a Year
Housing Shortages and Financial Control Keep Many Trapped, Says Anawim
As White Ribbon Day shines a light on violence against women and girls, a Birmingham women’s charity reveals that out of nearly 1,100 visits to its drop-in service last year, almost 400 were from women who had experienced abuse.
Alice Rosenthal, fundraising and communications officer at Anawim Birmingham Centre for Women, highlights the urgent challenges faced by these women.
“Finding safe and affordable and accessible housing for our women is just an uphill struggle. It’s one of the biggest challenges, bar none, that we are facing,” she says. Recent changes such as the closure of a women-only hostel in Moseley, replaced by mixed-sex accommodation, have left some women feeling unsafe due to past traumas.
Alice also explains how financial abuse plays a crucial role in keeping women trapped. “If somebody’s controlling your finances, some people might not know that they have a bank account or that they have access to that bank account,” she says.
Domestic abuse affects women across all backgrounds and is widespread in Birmingham. “In the last month it was about 50 out of 155 women” who visited Anawim’s drop-in service who had been subjected to some form of abuse, Alice adds.
White Ribbon Day marks the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Alice stresses the importance of the day: “It’s a massive moment to mark what we’re doing and to point out that the work still really desperately needs to be done.”
When asked what change would have the biggest impact, Alice is clear: “Having available safe housing that people could go to instantly if they are trying to get away from a violent situation. That would make such a difference... Our women would be going back to safe, warm, well maintained homes.”
Alice encourages men to play an active role in preventing violence by calling out sexist behaviour and supporting women’s voices.
For women seeking support, Anawim offers a range of services including drop-ins, casework, counselling, and help within secure settings. More information is available at Anawim.