About Us
This presentation reviews the work of Tees Valley
Sexual Violence Forum between 2002 and 2006 and can be downloaded in full in the download section.
History of Feminist Activism Around Violence Against Women in Tees Valley
Locally feminists were active around sexual and domestic violence since the 1970s
4 Women’s Aid Refuges were founded in the 1970s
Cleveland Rape Crisis Centre was founded in 1981 - later known as CRSACS and CREATE
Local Experience of Forum Working
Cleveland Domestic Violence Forum, one of the earliest, was formed in 1992
Chaired by Women’s Aid - an active forum, with many achievements including: hosting a 3-yr Zero Tolerance Campaign
1996-7: ‘Cleveland’ abolished
1997-8: Domestic Violence Forums founded in the 4 new Unitary authorities and in
2000 Darlington, Co. Durham (2000)
By 2002, Cleveland Rape Crisis Centre was:
21 years old - the largest in UK ~ 25 workers
Income generating & supported by grants
Providing counselling, advocacy and support ~ sexual violence and drugs+ eating disorders
Training voluntary and statutory services
Researching the attrition crisis (Home Office)
Responding to Setting the Boundaries
In negotiation with Cleveland Police and NHS ~ establishing a SARC for the region
Broad-based and working in partnership with voluntary and statutory agencies
Rape Crisis in Crisis
As a consequence of the insecure and inadequate funding regimes which characterises the voluntary sector ...
In Nov 2002, Cleveland Rape Crisis (CREATE) was suddenly closed and declared bankrupt
The closure of such an established key service became a major issue at the Changing Law, Changing Practice Conference, where in consequence:
Tees Valley Sexual Violence Forum was founded with the closure of CREATE, in December 2002. There was a crisis re sexual abuse counselling services across Teesside. Subsequently SEARCH extended its services in Hartlepool and expanded to cover Stockton. Redcar Women's Aid, with workers from former CREATE established a sexual violence counselling service covering Redcar and East Cleveland. Women's Support Network stepped in to continue to provide a sexual violence counselling and advocacy service in Middlesbrough. All these organisation are providing an excellent service across Teesside but funding remains a constant issue.
International Week of Action Against Violence Against Women
Rape: Changing Law – Changing Practice Conference Nov 2002
MDVF and University of Teesside
Speakers
Harriet Harman MP, QC, Solicitor General
Vera Baird MP, QC, Redcar
Alane Aitken: Women’s Support Network
Kay Davies: CREATE - freedom from sexual violence
Chair: Professor Jill Radford
Tees Valley Sexual Violence Forum: Aims
from these origins a 3-point agenda emerged:
Re-establishing rape crisis services for the region
Engaging with the draft Sexual Offences Bill, now the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Making a ‘state of the art’ Sexual Assault Referral Centre a reality
Meetings at the University, Friday lunch-times, every 6-weeks-ish.
Forum Achievements -1
Rape Crisis Services
Audit of local counselling services
Supported bids for emergency measures
Supported bids for new services in S.Tees and development of services in N.Tees
Sexual
Offences
Act
2003
Engaged with the SO Bill as it went thru’ Parliament - via MP
Monitoring its impact - still seeking funding for a research project
Forum Achievements - SARC
Slower Progress - Cleveland Police commitment £500k (2002)
Health authorities slower ‘rape not a health priority’ - commitment secured 2005
Representation on - SARC planning committee with Cleveland Police and NHS - and sub groups
Consultation Survey
Public education and awareness raising
Lobbying MPs
Planning in final stages, Jan 2006, but hit a set back and lost the proposed building
Awaiting news re another building - June 2006
Other Forum Activities
Opposed licence application from a local lap dancing club – failed
Series of complaints re police responses to rape complaints - brought to the forum by young women from across the region - followed -up
~ being pressured to withdraw complaints by officers from outside the investigation team
~ Police - public statement that young women going out drinking ‘provoke’ it
Challenges: ‘Talking Shop’
Although ‘talking shop’ is a common criticism of forums – Tees Valley Sexual Violence Forum – talks a lot – we find it a necessary and productive activity that facilitates strategic thinking & interventions
As a Forum, we have chosen to operate like a ‘think tank’ / policy advisory or pressure group and networking forum
As a Forum we don’t aspire to run services ourselves but aim to identify gaps and promote the development of new services
Challenges:
No money, no bank account, no written constitution, or named officers (other than Chair)
These have been discussed occasionally and no doubt will be again – but there’s always been more pressing concerns
Including maintaining autonomy- avoiding being co-opted or appropriated by statutory authorities - a danger currently facing domestic violence forums
Conclusion
As a Forum we have achieved such success as we’ve had because of:
Historical idioscyncracies
Feminist Activism
Prior experience of forum working
Commitment and talents of all involved
Diversity within the region