I was really pleased to have the opportunity to visit the Anawim Centre for Woman based in Balsall Heath in Birmingham. It does some amazing work supporting over 1,500 women on an annual basis in a wide range of areas consistent with its mission “to provide trauma responsive services, including holistic support and advocacy, to empower women to reach their potential.”
As well as the drop in service which supports women with some of the basic provisions needed on a day to day basis, there is specialist counselling support and assistance with housing and financial issues, as well as courses to address trauma, domestic abuse, assertiveness and self esteem amongst many others.
I was particularly interested to learn more about the work that the Centre does alongside the WMPCC and West Midlands Police, the Judiciary, the Prison Service and Probation Services to help women get the best possible pathways out of the Justice system, by understanding the root causes of offending behaviours and enabling them to make more positive life choices and reducing the likelihood of reoffending.