Club was given a compelling presentation, supported by audiovisual materials, on the topic of women in prison and the work of Anawim, Anawim – Birmingham’s Centre for Women a Birmingham-based charity supporting vulnerable women. She highlighted that Anawim’s services are available to all women, regardless of whether they have been in prison, and that no woman is ever turned away.
The presentation featured staff members and volunteers who shared insights into their work with women who have often experienced trauma, abuse or challenging life circumstances. Anawim aims to help these women build safer, more independent lives by offering a wide range of services, including counselling, advocacy and practical assistance. The goal is to help women develop the confidence and skills to overcome difficulties and improve their circumstances.
We were told some startling statistics. For instance, while women make up only 3.9% of the prison population, they account for 27.6% of all self-harm incidents in custody.
Many of threse women lack family support systems and experience significantly higher rates of PTSD and other health issues compared to the general population. It was also highlighted that when women are sent to prison, their children are often taken into care, which can cause further trauma and disruption to families.
A Q and A session followed the talk. The talk was very much appreciated by the Club and a Vote of Thanks was given by Sharon and Jean.