On the eve of our Funny Women Awards semi-final show at the Pavilion Theatre in Brighton tomorrow night, we want to highlight the unsung part of what we do to support charities on both a local and national level.
This year’s Awards are raising funds and awareness nationally for Women’s Aid the national domestic violence charity which coordinates and supports a network of over 370 local domestic violence organisations, providing refuge accommodation, helpline, outreach services and advice centres to 250,000 women and children each year.
One such organisation is RISE which we at Funny Women are very proud to support on an on-going basis at our very successful monthly Brighton Nights at Komedia. In respect of this, we asked Naomi Bos, RISE's communications officer for fundraising, to explain how the money and awareness we raise locally helps the charity.
“For almost 20 years, RISE has supported people affected by domestic abuse in Brighton and Hove and across West Sussex. One in four women suffers domestic violence over their lifetime, but on average a woman is assaulted 35 times before she makes her first call to the police. RISE is on hand to offer those in need refuge accommodation, counselling and legal support. The money raised at Funny Women events lets us provide these vital services.
“In 90% of domestic violence cases in family households, children were in the same or next room – and in half of those cases they were also abused. Last year we helped over a thousand women and their families to reclaim their lives. We offer children support with one-to-ones, in groups and by using play therapy – to help them learn to trust and to build healthy relationships.
“A mum of two, who sought help from RISE after years of abuse, told her case workers that they were ‘her angels’ who had completely turned her family’s lives around. Another survivor said it was thanks to RISE that she had the strength to prosecute after her partner tried to kill her. RISE couldn’t manage all this without the help, support and fundraising of members of the community.”
Funny Women will continue to support RISE at our shows in Brighton this Autumn. Details of our next show at Komedia on 21st September are HERE.
If you’d like more information about RISE or would like to help them raise money please visit www.riseuk.org.uk or email: fundraising@riseuk.org.uk.
You can still book for tomorrow night's semi-final of the Funny Women Awards HERE hosted by Julie Jepson and headlined by Jade the Folksinger who won the very first Awards in 2003.
