Local Women graduating from the Tower Hamlets Homes (THH) funded Dare to Lead programme have created an accessible animation to raise awareness of domestic abuse in their communities. Dare to Lead is run by the community-based support organisation Account3 and is funded by THH.
Account3’s Dare to Lead programme aims to support women’s economic independence and personal development. This year, the 12 week BAME Leadership course involved a collaborative creative project and participants chose to create an animation after a group discussion in which participants shared their own personal experiences of domestic abuse and noted the alarming increase in domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic in Tower Hamlets.
The video, titled Sista in Strength (SiS), was funded by THH and the Canary Wharf Group in collaboration with Bristol-based animation firm, Studio Giggle. The film details a woman’s journey through a world of psychological, physical, and emotional abuse and puts a fresh perspective on a challenging subject, whilst reinforcing the essential point that help is always available.
To view the SiS animation on YouTube with Bangla subtitles: https://youtu.be/IWAbq1kL0kw
To view the SiS animation on YouTube with Somali Subtitles: https://youtu.be/MYXH4bYeKFE
If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse, contact the 24/7 National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 257.
All staff at THH receive training around domestic abuse. If you are a THH resident you can call us in confidence on 020 7364 5015. We will put you through to your housing officer or a member of their team. Your housing officer can also arrange to meet with you face to face.
If THH cannot help you directly, we can refer you to organisations that can. With your consent, we can refer you to a support agency who are specialists in domestic abuse. They can give you advice on different options, such as an injunction. Injunctions can be used to stop the abuser from entering your home.
If you are in immediate danger ring 999.
If you need to speak to someone out of hours call the domestic violence helpline on 0808 2000 247.