BAWSO – Black Association Women Step Out
SI Cardiff & District supports BAWSO who are first responders rescuing and then supporting women and children subjected to human trafficking and domestic violence.
Fundraising is ongoing to purchase foodstuffs and toiletries and is also supported with donations from members and friends for toiletries for washbags and clothing. The washbags are made from purchased material given to a Cadwyn client who makes these bags using a sewing machine loaned by the club.The food, washbags and clothes are delivered at regular intervals to
BAWSO to distribute to those resident in their safe houses. For our work with Cadwyn see https://sigbi.org/cardiff-and-district/programme-action-club-activities/cadwyn-housing-association/
Packing goodies at Betty’s
Washboags and food stuffs delivered to BAWSO
Bootful of goodies for BAWSO
Tuesday & Wednesday 25/26th July 2017 – ‘A lovely afternoon filling wash bags, made by the ladies at Crafty afternoon at Cadwyn, with soap, flannels etc Thanks to Joan, Ann (and her trio of grandchildren) Jeni, Rita, Paula and Sandra .Thanks too to Betty for hosting the coffee and cake (yummy as we all had TWO slices !!! and chat after all the hard work. They following day, the bags and food stuffs purchased were delivered to BAWSO
Friday 25th November 2016 – Light a Candle to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
10.30 – 12.00 Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff
Guest Speakers: The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, The Independent National Adviser for VAW, Domestic Abuse, Gender Based and Sexual Violence, Survivor of Violence, Faith Leader
June 2016 – the 56 sponge bags diligently packed earlier in the month, have now been delivered!
l – r Joan Williams, President Ann, Programme Action Officer Paula Brookes and Jen Hancock
Monday 6th June 2016 – A sociable morning at President Ann’s home, chatting but more especially packing 56 wash bags for delivery to BAWSO
Programme Officer Ann Thomas (left) and President Jane Percy
11th March 2016 – Three members of SI Cardiff & District volunteered to be ushers at the inaugural lecture, held to mark International Women’s Day ( 8th March) organised by BAWS0 – Title – “Reframing Violence Against Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Women and Girls”.
Ann Thomas (left) handing over wash bags to Mwenya from BAWSO
Wednesday 24th Feburary 2016 – Club and supper meeting 7pm Holiday Inn. President Jane welcomed all members and our guest Mwenya Chimba. Members were served supper after which Ann Thomas, Programme Action Officer presented 35 wash bags filled with toiletries to Mwenya for BAWSO clients.
Wednesday 28th October 2015 – At the supper meeting at the Holiday Inn Tongwynlais, President Jane presented a cheque for £142 to Dr Mwenya Chimba of BAWSO, monies raised at a stall held at the Botanical Gardens in August 2015 at an Anti Human Traffic fundraising and awareness raising afternoon.
On 25th November 2014 members from SI Cardiff and SI Barry attended a Light a Candle event at Llandaff Cathedral to mark the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women organised by BAWSO.
At our club meeting in October 2014, Marcelle Davies reported that clothes, food, bedding and wash bags had been delivered recently to BAWSO. She specified other items needed including warm winter woollies.
On 10th October 2014, about 15 members supported a coffee morning held by BAWSO at which they detailed their work and introduced members to a couple of women that they have supported and helped.
BAWSO
Since 2010-11 SI Cardiff has been developing a working relationship with BAWSO (Black African Women Step Out). BAWSO was founded in 1995 and provides specialist services to women from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds who are affected by domestic abuse, and other forms of abuse such as FGM, Forced Marriage, Human Trafficking and Prostitution.
For several years Cardiff Soroptimists have been attending ‘Light a Candle’, the multi-faith event organised by BAWSO each 25th November at Llandaff Cathedral, to mark International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. In 2013 the event was hosted by SI Cardiff member, Venerable Peggy Jackson (Archdeacon of Llandaff).
In July 2012 BAWSO’s Dr Mwenya Chimba was one of the contributors to the SI Cardiff ‘Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery’ seminar at the SWALEC Stadium. In November 2012 Cardiff Soroptimists helped with stewarding duties at the BAWSO International Trafficking Conference at the All Nations Centre.
Following the success of our Human Trafficking seminar, SI Cardiff worked with BAWSO to design and produce human trafficking awareness stickers for Cardiff taxis. £350 was set aside from club fundraising events and the stickers were presented to Cardiff City Council to mark International Women’s Day (8th March) in 2013.Cardiff taxi drivers are given the stickers when they renew their annual licenses. For more information on the seminar and to view the taxi sticker see https://sigbi.org/cardiff-and-district/programme-action-club-activities/programme-action-previous-activities/programme-action-human-trafficking/
BAWSO runs several refuges and safe houses acrossWales and SI Cardiff members support these on a regular basis: we collect store cupboard foodstuffs, make up emergency wash bags, and contribute loose leisure clothing and bedding.
Over a 6-month period in 2013 members donated 49 tins of food; 16 packets of rice, pasta etc.; 16 jars of coffee/packs of tea/sugar; 9 washbags; 24 items of bedding; 13 items of leisure clothing.
Discovering that there would be 16 babies and small children in BAWSO refuges at Christmas 2013, club members made an impromptu collection and were able to donate soft toys and foodstuffs – plus a tin of sweets for BAWSO staff!
Dr Mwenya Chimba has written to us: “I would like to say a big thank you for the donations you have been making for the women. They make a massive difference, more so in these difficult times.”