To finish my "three years of fundraising for CAFOD", this year I will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon to support their projects which empower women and girls (Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality), and because all of their programmes take a gender-based approach (please note that what is good for women is good for all of humanity). 

To keep the balance of local and global, a kind friend has also offered to "aid match" up to the value of £200 for Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse Charity and the East Kent Rape Crisis Centre, both in Canterbury, so by supporting CAFOD and women and girls in the global South, you will also be supporting women and children closer to home. 

Most women will have experienced or know someone that has
experienced sexual abuse or assault and/or domestic violence. I’m no different, and this work is something which is close to my heart.

CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), is  addressing Sustainable Development Goal #5 – Gender Equality – by taking a gender-based approach to all of their work and projects. For example, as women are more likely to live in poverty and less likely to have received an education, many projects incorporate teaching literacy and numeracy skills to women, as well as business
skills, financial management, vocational training and leadership skills. Community support groups feature in many projects – some of which are women-only, while others create safe spaces for women and men to discuss their issues and experiences around gender. For projects which specifically address sexual violence, women and girls receive, depending on the specific programme, psychosocial support
(one-on-one and peer group support), legal support if they wish to pursue legal action, medical treatment, spiritual support, and help getting into employment.

Rising Sun Domestic Violence Charity, based in East Kent, saw
demand for its services triple during the pandemic and this has largely remained at this level since. I remember someone telling me that during the pandemic, a taxi driver told them that their most common client was a woman, and possibly children, with many belongings, or women with bruises on their face. Rising
Sun supports victims and survivors of domestic violence – physical, psychological, sexual, financial, emotional, digital, coercive control – through therapy, peer support, skills services, and help finding accommodation. They also provide activities for children and young people – this year I have learned a lot about how fun is an important part of healing and living! I have also chosen Rising Sun in memory of PCSO Julia James who worked with Rising Sun and was killed in
an unprovoked “murder involving sexual conduct” in the next village along last year.

The East Kent Rape Crisis Centre provides free specialist counselling to victims and survivors of sexual violence, including historic
sexual violence and those who have Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They also provide training to local businesses, groups and institutions about preventing and handling sexual misconduct and abuse.

Thank you for reading this far. You can donate using the link
at the side, though part of the reason I have chose this cause specifically is to do some small part in raising awareness and breaking down the stigma in speaking about this. Even knowing where to signpost someone can sometimes save lives.

¡Gracias a todos!

https://cafod.org.uk/

https://www.risingsunkent.com/

https://www.ekrcc.org.uk/