Brighton Women's Centre

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Brighton Women's Centre is a women's charity in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. Founded in 1974 as a "safe space" for women needing support, the project provides a variety services and aims to "empower women and promote independence in a safe, women-only space". [1]

Charitable organization non-profit organization with a charitable purpose

A charitable organization or charity is a non-profit organization (NPO) whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being.

East Sussex County of England

East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent to the north and east, Surrey to the north west and West Sussex to the west, and to the south by the English Channel.

Contents

History

Brighton Women’s Centre was formed in November 1974 by a group of women who wanted to create a space where women could meet, for mutual support, to overcome social isolation and feel safe. In 1989 a grant from Brighton and Hove City Council, then Brighton Council, enabled the Centre to secure its own premises. The Centre moved 12 years later to the Brighthelm Community Centre, then in 2006 to the High Street, Kemptown and is now based at 22 Richmond Place, Brighton.

Brighton and Hove City Council

Brighton and Hove City Council is the local authority of the city of Brighton and Hove. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. It provides a full range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority.

In 1992 the Centre set up a registered crèche called ToyBox, to offer childcare to mothers in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation and where the children were suffering deprivation through low income, language barriers or both. In 2003 the crèche was renamed the ToyBox Pre-School and since 2000 has provided places in partnership with the Sure Start initiative and is registered for Ofsted inspection. [2]

Brighton Women's Centre effectively became a nursery for the development of other women's organisations in the city, namely Brighton Oasis Project and the Women’s Refuge Project (now Rise). [3]

In 1996 the Brighton Oasis Project formally separated from the Brighton Woman's Centre but services were still delivered at the Brighton Woman's Centre until 1998.

In 1999 the book A Woman’s Place was written to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the centre.

In 2014, Brighton Women's Centre celebrated its 40th birthday with a range of fundraising events. [4]

In 2014 the multi agency Brighton & Hove project Inspire working with women at all stages of involvement in the Criminal Justice System, was expanded Sussex-wide. [5] The original scheme was developed by the women’s voluntary sector in Brighton and Hove, with Brighton Women’s Centre, Brighton Oasis Project, Threshold (BHT), Rise, and Survivor’s Network all involved. [6]

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References

  1. "Brighton Women's Centre". Brighton Women's Centre. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  2. "Toybox Pre-School". Brighton Women's Centre. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  3. "BWC's History". Brighton Women's Centre. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  4. Katy Rice. "Brighton Women's Centre marks 40 years of caring for and empowering women". The Argus. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  5. "Female reoffender scheme expands". The Argus. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  6. "Inspire Project". Brighton Women's Centre. Retrieved 2 October 2014.