Who are SBS?

Southall Black Sisters, a not-for-profit organisation, was established in 1979 to meet the needs of black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women. Our aims are to highlight and challenge violence against women; empower them to gain more control over their lives; live without fear of violence; and assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom. For more than two decades we have been at the forefront of challenging domestic and gender violence locally and nationally, and campaigning for the provision of support services to enable women and their children to escape violent relationships.

We manage a resource centre in West London that provides a comprehensive service to women experiencing violence and abuse. We offer specialist advice, information, casework, advocacy, counselling and self-help support services in several community languages. We are managed by a group of women with long experience of women's struggles and commitment to women's rights.

What's new

Major Victory on No Recourse to Public Funds

On 16 July 2010, the Home Secretary, Teresa May, announced that the Home Office pilot scheme, the Sojourner Project, which gives women with immigration and no recourse to public funds (NRPF) problems access to housing and subsistence costs for up to 40 days for those who apply to remain in the UK under the ‘domestic violence rule,’ will be extended from September 2009 to March 2011. She also stated that the Government was committed to finding a long-term solution to the problem.

Southall Black Sisters has been campaigning for reform on NRPF for 20 years. In 2007, we established the ‘Campaign to Abolish No Recourse to Public Funds,’ a coalition involving over 30 leading human rights and women’s organisations, which has been working with the Home Office on developing and monitoring the pilot scheme, and lobbying for a permanent solution. We welcome the Home Secretary’s announcement, and call on the Government to reform the benefit and immigration rules to exempt all women subjected to domestic violence, trafficking and abuse and exploitation as overseas domestic workers from the NRPF requirement. We also call on the Government to continue to work with us to develop these proposals for reform.

Southall Black Sisters at the South Bank as part of The Southall Story

Southall is a thriving and vibrant town, buzzing with life and multicultural communities. The Southall Story exhibition launched with a celebration of South Asian and African music. The event was a colourful and energetic fusion of dance, music and art showcased by traditional South Asian and African performers. The continuation of Punjabi culture in the UK was brought to life via the passion of various artists and the names that are now associated with everyday households. The exhibition was a reflective journey of the expanding migrant community networks that have developed over the years and it specifically earmarked the key historical events that have made Southall an eminent domain for facilitating racial tolerance and cohesion.

Meena Patel and Hannana Siddiqui.
Picture Credit: Equilibrium Internet Solutions

This celebratory theme was continued throughout the Alchemy festival. There were Garba dancers in the main hall welcoming all to take part and learn the moves of this traditional Gujarati folk dance. It was an invigorating experience where members of all racial and religious backgrounds came together to celebrate an Indian cultural activity.

The Southall Story exhibition in the Spirit Level, Festival Hall, South Bank is open until 11th May 2010.

Sophia & Kaljinder

Secularist of the Year prize awarded to Southall Black Sisters

The Southall Black Sisters have been awarded the National Secular Society’s £5,000 Irwin Prize for Secularist of the Year. The award was presented to Pragna Patel, Chair of the organisation, at prestigious award ceremony in central London on Saturday.

NSS President Terry Sanderson said: “Southall Black Sisters was set up to meet the needs of Black and Asian women who are the victims of domestic violence or injustices in the legal system. The main aim of the organisation is to empower women in gaining more control over their lives, to be able to live without fear of violence and be able to assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom. It is right on the forefront of the feminist struggle in this country. It celebrated its thirtieth anniversary last year, being founded in 1979 during the Southall race riots.”

Read full article here

SOUTHALL BLACK SISTERS RESPONDS TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S SUSPENSION OF GITA SAHGAL FOLLOWING HER CRITICISM OF THE ORGANISATION FOR ITS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH MOAZZAM BEGG AND CAGEPRISONERS

We are gravely concerned at the way in which Amnesty International has sought to address Gita Sahgal’s criticism of its close collaboration with the likes of Moazzam Begg. Clearly, it must be right for the Head of its Gender Unit to interrogate Amnesty International as to who it chooses to associate with without fear of being sacked?

We admire and respect the work of Amnesty International to get women’s human rights on the agenda and we support Amnesty International’s campaign to highlight the plight of those who have been tortured, detained without trial and denied due process. However we believe that Amnesty International’s stance is being rightly questioned by organisations like ours who struggle to ensure that the debate on the War on Terror and religious fundamentalism is not reduced to the logic of ‘either you are with us or you are against us’. We have sought to avoid such dead ends which fail to illuminate how and why human rights violations are perpetrated either by States such as the US, UK and Israel or by all religious fundamentalist movements that are on the rise around the world. As women’s organisations, we have fought against considerable odds, to ensure that women’s human rights and those of other marginalised groups and minorities around the world are universally accepted and addressed as such, especially in the face of violence and persecution by non-state actors, including all religious right wing forces who masquerade as anti-imperialist, development, human rights and anti-racist movements.

Failing to acknowledge concerns that Gita Sahgal and others have raised about those who sympathise with or have close connections with anti-democratic religious right forces in all religions including the Taliban, signals the view that Amnesty International is not concerned about the rights of women and sexual minorities or freedom of expression.

Amnesty International’s attempt to equate Gita Sahgal’s legitimate concerns with the demonisation of Guantanamo inmates as the ‘other’ by the neoconservatives and their allies in the West, in our view, amounts to a denial and abrogation of internal and external accountability. What we need is a proper debate, not a closing down of debate of these important issues.

When so called victims of the War on Terror advocate ‘engagement’ with combatants – perhaps necessary to achieve peace – why are they not challenged on the authoritarian social and political agenda that they support? We know from experience around the world, including post war Iraq that women’s rights are the first to be traded in such political settlements!

If human rights are universal and indivisible - a view which we believe we share with Amnesty International – then it becomes all the more incumbent upon us all to double check who we take on as our partners. If, like us, Amnesty International accepts that the question should not be about whether some are more deserving of human rights than others, then it needs to urgently review its collaboration with those who sympathise with all religious fundamentalist forces however difficult this may be. The time has come for all liberals working within the human rights arena to engage their critical faculties, not suspend or leave them behind for fear of being labelled Islamaphobic, anti-semitic or racist. There is another way of looking at human rights – one which does not trade women’s rights or those of other vulnerable minorities for either the right to security or for the right to manifest religious identity.

Southall Black Sisters

Please click on the link below to sign

"A Global Petition to Amnesty International: Restoring the Integrity of Human Rights"

New Helpline Launched

SBS launches a new dedicated helpline 0208 571 0800, open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm (closed 12.30pm to 1.30pm Wednesdays only)

For general enquiries the number remains 0208 571 9595, open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm (closed 12.30pm to 1.30pm for lunch)

Vacancies at Southall Black Sisters

For further information on the available vacancies click here

Southall Black Sisters Launch
The No Recourse Fund

Background Information

Women fleeing domestic violence desperately need emergency accommodation, support and protection. However those subject to the ‘no recourse to public funds’, because of their insecure immigration status (i.e. they are not UK residents), cannot access any form of emergency accommodation, including refuges, as they are not able to claim housing benefit, income support and other state benefits. They are also prohibited from accessing any form of social housing through the local authority. The result is that they are faced with stark choices: leave and face destitution or stay and risk their lives.

In recognition of the plight of hundreds of women and children in this situation, Southall Black Sisters, have, with funds provided by London Councils and the charity Oxfam, set up a small ‘last resort fund’ called the ‘SBS No Recourse Fund’ (SBS NRF). The fund will be used to help accommodate and provide subsistence costs for a limited period for women who have experienced domestic violence and have insecure immigration status with no recourse to public funds. The funds will also be used to help women who are victims of trafficking and prostitution.

The funds will be allocated in the following way:

• Funds from London Councils will be used to cover emergency housing costs and living expenses for women and children in London
• Funds from Oxfam will cover emergency housing and living expenses for women and children outside London.

Please note that the SBS No Recourse Fund is a last resort fund. The funds will only be open to non-governmental organisations. The overall funds available are severely limited and will only be provided where organisation give a commitment to assist women to pursue other avenues of financial assistance, including legal proceedings against local authorities. The No Recourse Funds will not be released if organisations fail, during the period of NRF funding from SBS, to assist women to obtain alternative funding.

The No Recourse Fund will cover the costs of emergency accommodation and other basic living expenses to enable women and children to access places of safety such as a refuge pending more long-term arrangements for housing and living expenses. SBS can assist you through this process.

The fund will pay accommodation and subsistence costs of up to £30 per week for an adult and £10 per week for a child.

• Single women will be assisted for a maximum of 6 weeks.
• Women with children will be assisted for one week.

Application Packs

Please contact SBS for an application pack, which sets out the criteria and conditions of eligibility in more detail You can also download the application pack from the SBS website: www.southallblacksisters.org.uk

Please also feel free to contact SBS if you need advice and assistance in pursuing other sources of funding for women.

SBS will also be running training courses on domestic violence, immigration and no recourse in 2009. Details will be posted on our website and sent via email in the New Year.

Please contact:
Southall Black Sisters
SBS NO RECOURSE FUND

Southall Black Sisters’ Victory against Ealing Council

‘There is no dichotomy between funding specialist services and cohesion; equality is necessary for cohesion to be achieved.’ Lord Justice Moses

Download Lord Justice Moses's full judgement

On 18 July at the High Court, in a dramatic turn of events, Ealing Council withdrew their case after one and a half days of a hearing which saw their defence rapidly unravelling. From the outset, it became apparent to the presiding judge, Lord Justice Moses and to all those present in the courtroom including the packed public gallery, that Ealing Council was skating on really thin ice in attempting to justify its decision to cut funding to SBS and to commission instead one generic borough wide service on domestic violence on the grounds of ‘equality’ and ‘cohesion’.

When we began the process of challenging Ealing Council exactly one year ago, we were not sure where our journey would lead us. We received tremendous support from our users and many, many other individuals and organisations along the way. It is impossible to list everyone who supported us but we really would not have come this far without such encouragement and support. Above all, the support that we received reminded us of our responsibility in building a civil society based on the principles of justice, equality and humanity. We thank you all for making this victory possible.

Southall Black Sisters – Our tradition: Struggle Not Submission.

Read all about the victory or read the full written judgement of Lord Justice Moses. We hope the judgment will help other organisations to fight any funding cuts that they may be facing. If you use the judgement then please let SBS know.


Picture Credit: Ealing Times

In April 2008: No Recourse campaign update

ALERT: DAY OF ACTION – 23RD APRIL 2008

There is now less than a week to go until the Abolish No Recourse Day of Action on the 23rd April! Please put the date in your diary.

Taking Action:

The campaign resource pack is available here. The pack contains:

- A brief background on no recourse to public funds
- Details of the Day of Action
- Actions you can take, plus tips on meeting with and lobbying your MP.
- Case studies and examples of other organisations actions.
- Charities and campaigning.
- A template letter, press release and model resolution
- Fact sheet on the issues to help you campaign.
- Links to further resources and a list of affiliated individuals and groups.

On the Day:

The plan for the Day of Action is to assemble at 11.00am for a demonstration at 11.30-12.30 on the Embankment opposite Portcullis House, Westminster, London (nearest tube Westminster) we were not able to get permission to gather in Parliament Square. A big, bold and beautiful banner is being made by an Amnesty artist. Please wear black on the day.

The public meeting will begin at 1pm in Portcullis House, details of the speakers will follow shortly.

If you organising a coach party for the day of action on the 23rd, please make sure your coach company arranges a place to park, as this may need to be booked in advance!

Tell us about your actions!

See the How Can I Support Her? Domestic Violence, immigration and women with no recourse to public funds’ Resource Pack for comprehensive information for voluntary and community organisations supporting women with insecure immigration status who are experiencing domestic violence.

In February 2008: Marriage to Partners From Overseas – Border and Immigration Agency consultation (closed)

No doubt many of you were aware of the proposals contained in this consultation document on marriage to overseas partners. The deadline for the response was 27 February 2008 but you can still download the Southall Black Sisters letter outlining the main issues and SBS's position or the BIA Proforma for responses

See the Forced Marriage campaign section for more on this issue.

Kiranjit's was the first case in which Southall Black Sisters supported and campaigned on behalf of a battered woman who had killed her husband.

Now she has written her story of the case that has become legal history and paved the way for other women in Kiranjit's situation to win justice.

In February 2007: To register with the Home Office as an approved Domestic Violence organisation providing evidence under the Domestic Violence Immigration Rule complete the declaration form. Visit the services section to find out more and download the form.

In October 2006 we launched the How Can I Support Her? Domestic Violence, immigration and women with no recourse to public funds’ Resource Pack. This resource pack for voluntary and community organisations gives comprehensive information for voluntary and community organisations supporting women with insecure immigration status who are experiencing domestic violence. It covers how to make applications under the Domestic Violence Rule, information on other immigration and asylum procedures, and details of financial support that women may be eligible for.

In October 2006 we also launched the 'Campaign to abolish no recourse to public funds' leaflet. This campaign brings together key women’s organisations to highlight the devastating impact of the ‘no recourse’ requirement on the lives of minority women without secure immigration status who are subject to domestic violence. Vist the campaigns section to find out more, or publications to download a the flyer.

In January 2006, our film Love, Honour and Disobey was published by Faction Films. Love, Honour and Disobey is essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand domestic violence within black and minority ethnic communities. It will be useful for training teachers, social workers, police, lawyers, health workers and any other professionals, refuges and women's groups.

On 25 November 2003, our book, From Homebreakers to Jailbreakers: Southall Black Sisters was published by Zed Press. This book sets out to map that terrain where race and gender make competing claims. It is written by SBS women and analyses the dilemmas we have faced in the last 24 years on a whole range of issues ranging from forced marriage to religious fundamentalism.

In December 2003 the Government introduced the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill. Although the Bill generally improves legal protection for victims of domestic violence it fails to address the needs of victims subject to immigration control who are trapped in abusive relationships, because they have no recourse to public funds. Southall Black Sisters has been lobbying for amendments to the Bill to enable these women to access benefits and emergency accommodation. You can support our campaign by writing to your M.P.