Last month, Savera UK brought together more than 40 clients and their families for an incredible visit to Knowsley Safari Park. This event and other social occasions like it are significant in our clients’  journeys towards healing and empowerment as survivors of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices.

For survivors of HBA and harmful practices, the likelihood of isolation and loneliness is high. This may be due to the rejection by family members and/or the community, fear, a lack of trust, or language/financial barriers. Savera UK’s wellbeing and empowerment programme, which includes group days out like this one, aims to build community and social networks and is crucial for survivors as they start their ‘savera’ or ‘new beginning’.

Simple pleasures

The day began with anticipation and excitement as everyone gathered at the meeting spot. For many of our clients, this was a chance to reconnect with familiar faces, although for some, it was their first group outing since starting their journey with us, so a mix of emotions was recognised. However, we boarded the coach, there was an immediate sense of belonging, with conversations flowing and smiles all around.

As we drove through the safari park, we saw zebra, buffalo, deer, rhinos and many more. Each animal was met with wide eyes and gasps of amazement as we observed their natural interactions with one another. We were also lucky to watch the sea lions show, where we were stunned by their tricks and humorous timing. 

The day out was not just about experiencing the beauty of nature; it was about reconnecting with the world and enjoying the simple pleasures. This brought a joy that many of our clients had not felt in a long time.

Joy plays a vital role in the healing process, it can counterbalance the emotional pain and suffering of trauma. Joyful events can also bring the survivor a sense of normality  and give way for them to rebuild their life as they’re given hope that it  can improve. 

Being present

Our clients also enjoyed a  variety of other attractions at the park, including many rides for children. It allowed clients to take their mind off their individual worries, being present and surrounded by family and friends. 

One survivor said:  “It was so lovely to be able to take my mind off everything and watch my kids play without overthinking”.

Living in the moment deflects the constant replaying of traumatic memories and helps the survivor to feel less anxious and stressed. The traumatic experiences that survivors of HBA and harmful practices have been through can instil worry and fear as the survivor feels as if they cannot mentally escape the torment of their perpetrator(s). Savera UK’s wellbeing and empowerment programme aims to help survivors work through this and move forward with confidence.

Emotional Intervention

On the coach journey back,  conversations were filled with laughter, hope and a sense of community as each client shared  their experience at the park.  

It is important that survivors feel understood and accepted, and to be able to connect with others who have shared similar experiences, as it can be validating and comforting. Survivors can be reluctant to speak on their experiences, sometimes  due to a fear of  judgement or rejection. 

However, meeting someone with a similar experience can build a network allowing for emotional help and intervention, which can foster resilience and help a survivor’s journey to their new beginning. At Savera UK, we work to foster a welcoming community, hosting weekly group activities as well as days out and other experiences. Our aim is to bring friendship, belonging and joy to our clients’ lives. 

Thank you to everyone who made  this wonderful trip possible, most of all our clients for their bravery, sense of adventure and care for one another.

 

Blog written by Nia Glouden, Knowsley Safari Park: A Day of Healing and Connecting

 

Savera UK invites you to join our free in-person event for professionals at Storyhouse in Chester on Friday 27th September 2024: HBA & Harmful Practices Happen Here – Responding As A Frontline Professional.

The event will see Savera UK, Deputy PCC for Cheshire, Gemma Southern, Savera UK Survivor Ambassador, Khatra Paterson, and the Forced Marriage Unit deliver sessions for professionals in the voluntary and statutory sector, working across health and social care, education and domestic abuse services.

The event will highlight the risk and indicators of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, including forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM), and how to further improve response to these issues, with opportunities to ask questions to specialists and survivors.

As well and knowledge sharing presentations from the Deputy PCC for Cheshire, survivors and the Forced Marriage Unit, Savera UK will deliver a ‘mini training’ session featuring advice, practical take-homes and a toolkit for professionals.

Prior to the start of the main event, there will be light refreshments, stalls from Cheshire service providers and an opportunity to network with colleagues.

Details of the schedule below, updates will be provided nearer to the event.

Date: Friday 27th September 2024

Time: 12pm – 4pm

Venue: Storyhouse Chester (Garrett Theatre), Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR

Schedule:

12pm – Stalls, networking and light refreshments

1pm – Event start

4pm – Event end followed by further opportunities to visit stalls and network

Book your ticket here.

MEET YOUR SPEAKERS

 

Afrah Qassim

Afrah is the Founder and CEO of Savera UK, a leading national charity working to end ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices including female genital mutilation, forced marriage, virginity testing and breast ironing.

Afrah is also the Chair of Liverpool Arab Arts Festival (LAAF) and winner of the Woman of Courage Award by Merseyside Women of the Year Awards 2022.

 

Gemma Southern

Gemma Southern is the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Cheshire.

 

 

 

 

 

Khatra Paterson

Khatra Paterson is a Somalian-born, female business owner and mother of two, with a passion for ensuring women’s health and wellbeing. As an FGM survivor and Savera UK Survivor Ambassador, Khatra is keen to raise awareness about how women can promote and maintain their health and wellbeing irrespective of their experiences. Having spent 32 years as a nurse, midwife and health visitor, Khatra’s caring and compassionate side has been well proven.

Khatra has overcome trauma to build a thriving and inclusive £2 million business, and she remains resolved to make a real difference in people’s lives by supporting survivors of FGM.

 

Forced Marriage Unit

The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) is a joint Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Home Office unit which leads on the government’s forced marriage policy, outreach and casework. It operates both inside the UK (where support is provided to any individual) and overseas (where consular assistance is provided to British nationals, including dual nationals).

 

 

Ayesha Alam

Ayesha is the Project Development Coordinator for the Cheshire Project at Savera UK. She oversees service delivery across Cheshire, builds partnerships, and provides training and awareness raising about HBA and harmful practices to diverse audiences across Cheshire. Ayesha is also a published researcher with notable contributions in the fields of ‘honour’-based abuse and domestic violence and has experience of working in psychology practice (in clinical and forensic settings). Additionally, she is currently completing a PhD in Forensic Psychology.

The Day of Memory is an awareness day that marks Shafilea Ahmed’s birthday on the 14th July each year. Shafilea was murdered in an ‘honour’ killing in Warrington in 2003 by her parents. The Day of Memory is used nationally to remember all those who lost their lives to ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA).

An estimated 5,000 people per year globally are murdered as a result of ‘honour’ killings. While in the UK there are an estimated 12 to 15 ‘honour’ killings each year. However, we believe this is only the tip of the iceberg. Many will not be reported due to the  lack of awareness and failure to recognise HBA and under-reporting means that these numbers are likely to be much higher. It is vital for us as an organisation to celebrate and remember those who are murdered in ‘honour’ killings and make sure that no one else loses their life this way. Our commitment and mission is to end HBA and harmful practices for good.

On Monday 15th July with other colleagues and partners, we joined the University of Salford’s and Karma Nirvana, as they led the Day of Memory event, remembering and celebrating those killed in ‘honour’ killings. At the event we planted a memorial tree, heard victim stories and held a minute’s silence, while reaffirming our commitment to working collaboratively to end HBA and harmful practices.

We remember and celebrate and will never forget those lost to ‘honour’

 

Samia Shahid

Samia was in an arranged marriage when she fell in love with Syed Kazim. 

She divorced her husband and started a new life with Kazim in Dubai, but her family did not approve. 

She was lured back to her home country under false pretences that her father was critically ill. 

Her family told her husband she died of ‘natural causes’ however, he persisted and it was revealed she was killed in an ‘honour’ killing.

 

 

Arash Ghorbani-Zarin

Arash was a 19-year-old student at Oxford Brookes University. 

After a year of dating 20-year-old Manna Begum, she fell pregnant. 

The couple were excited to start a family, however, Manna’s father had wanted to force his daughter to marry another man.

He and his two sons ambushed Arash in his car, killing him to protect their ‘honour’.

 

Banaz Mahmod

After two years in an abusive forced marriage, Banaz fell in love with Rahmat Suleimani, against her family’s wishes. 

Banaz’s uncle devised a plan to kill them both which she overheard. Multiple threats of death and violence were made to both Banaz and Rahmat and one occasion left her in hospital stating ‘her father tried to kill her’. 

Two days after a kidnap attempt of Rahmat, Banaz was murdered in an ‘honour’ killing.

 

Laura Wilson

16 year old Laura Wilson was in a secret relationship with Ashtiaq Ashgar who knew his family wouldn’t approve. 

When Laura found out he was seeing other girls, she had a fling with Ashgar’s friend and fell pregnant. 

After the birth of the baby, Laura told the families of both Ashgar and his friend about the relationships. 

Ashgar then lured her to a canal where she was killed to protect his ‘honour’.

 

Heshu Jones

Heshu was a 16-year-old girl from Fulham. 

She lived a double life, putting on make-up after leaving the house and lying to her parents about having a boyfriend. 

Heshu’s father found out from their “community” about Heshu’s boyfriend. 

After months of physical abuse, he killed her in their home in an ‘honour’ killing.

 

Thank you to Karma Nirvana and the University of Salford for hosting such an important event. 

Follow our social media channels @SaveraUK to learn more about HBA and harmful practices, hear survivor stories and find out how you can help us to end ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices for good.

Last week our DI Team Coordinator Merfat was celebrated as a finalist at MWOTY awards 2024, being named runner up in the “Women to Watch” category. 

The nomination celebrated her work leading the Direct Intervention team in its mission to end ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices. In her role, Merfat is a powerful advocate for survivors and those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices.

In the last year Merfat has led our DI team – a group of young women – with passion and tenacity. Together they have helped 178 clients, responded to 495 calls to the helpline and spent 2,292 hours working to safeguard those experiencing HBA and harmful practices. 

Outside of her professional role she is passionate about battling racism and works to foster an environment of understanding and dialogue in her local community. Merfat has achieved this success despite battling a long-term, undiagnosed illness throughout childhood, being out of school for a long time. Merfat got her own education back on track and was the first person in her family to graduate from university.

Donna Scully, Director of Carpenters Group, was named this year’s overall Merseyside Woman of the Year, for her selfless work in the communities, within and outside her professional career.

Emily McChrystal from Restless Development was named the winner in Merfat’s category, for her work empowering young marginalised people and advocating for change within Liverpool. 

Well done to all the inspirational finalists. Head to the MWOTY official website to see all winners and runner-ups for each category.

Sanjana is a student from North India currently doing her masters in Social Work at Liverpool Hope University. We caught up with her following her completion of a 70-day student placement with Savera UK, to find out what she learned from the experience.

What was the focus of your work while on placement with Savera UK? 

“During my placement I worked with the Direct Intervention team, taking assessments for survivors of ‘honour’-based abuse, undertaking outcomes monitoring, and helping with safety plans and risk assessments. Attending Weekly sessions, interacting with survivors has been inspiring and taught me a lot. Also had the opportunity to work with professionals and advocate on behalf of our clients, making sure everything is in place  and their needs has been met.”

What surprised you about the role? 

“The number of cases has really surprised me, the amount of referrals that  we receive in a day for Merseyside and Cheshire. Though it has allowed me to learn about our clients’ experiences and hear them through conducting their  assessments, which opened my eyes to what they have been going through and how they’ve being treated. What Savera UK does for survivors is amazing. I’m grateful to have been a part of it.”

What did you enjoy most about the role?

“Everything! I enjoyed it all, so many experiences were new for me and I learned a lot. I had previous working experience but its different to the way Savera UK works. The team here have been amazing, they’ve been there for me, always supportive and guided me through everything. The team always answered any questions I had. I enjoyed making connections with the clients and the wider team. Even though there’s tough topics being discussed, everyone works to create a healthy environment by always checking in with each other.”

Did the placement meet your expectations, prior to starting the role? 

“Yes, it exceeded them, it’s been amazing. I didn’t think that I’d be leaving the placement as a different version of myself from what I arrived as. My professional ability has progressed alongside my knowledge and views of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices. Everyone’s work ethic was really inspiring, every member of the team is so passionate and always ready to help people.”

What did you learn while working with Savera UK? What was the most important thing you’ll take away from your experience? 

“I was able to develop my professional skills and prepare myself for a workplace environment by liaising with professionals and clients regularly. I also learned how to build a positive rapport with clients and work well within a team dynamic under stressful situations.”

“The diverse range of clients meant I became much more culturally aware and knowledgeable. I got to understand how beautiful culture is and how to decipher between culture and abuse. There is no excuse for abuse, although many people tend to excuse certain harmful behaviours under the guise of religion or culture.”

“I’ll take away a new-found understanding and respect for other cultures and the knowledge of how to differentiate between culture and ‘honour’-based abuse. I’ve also gained interpersonal skills that I’ll take with me into my future work endeavours within social work.”

What were some of the more challenging aspects of the role?

“I think the most challenging part was listening to the stories of the clients and their experiences, it took me a while to adjust to that element. My emotional intelligence improved with each interaction and I understand the importance of the work Savera UK does.”

Based on your experience working with Savera UK, what do you think are the biggest challenges facing organisations supporting survivors and those at risk of HBA and harmful practices? 

“I think communication becomes difficult when there’s a language barrier or if clients don’t have access to technology, which in many cases with ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices they don’t. Sometimes they’re very restricted and won’t have a means of communication so professionals find it difficult to safely contact them especially if they’re living in an abusive environment.”

What do you think needs to be done to combat that? 

“Everyone is doing their best but more resources and better funding is definitely needed for charitable organisations. However this isn’t always attainable with the lack of awareness about ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA). Having a broader understanding of HBA and harmful practices would allow other organisations to be better equipped. People should also have better access to interpretation agencies and it would be more helpful for these interpreters to be trained in HBA to ensure the correct translation for clients.”

What was the happiest moment of your placement? 

“Although I really enjoyed the moments where we had fun in the office, uplifting each other, the International Women’s Day event was the highlight of my placement. I spoke with lots of professionals and survivors that attended a beautiful celebration and would like to thank Savera UK for that.”

What are your future plans?   

“I’d like to complete my degree and become a licensed social worker, who is able to help people and apply what I learned here in my future practice. I’m interested in the mental health area of social work and the experiences I had here have set me up with the tools I need for that.” 

How will you use your practical experience with Savera UK going forward? 

“Having empathy and compassion for the clients is crucial and the key to building relationships with them in their ‘new beginnings’. I’ll be accepting and will try to help them the best I can. I will apply my knowledge from my time with Savera UK when dealing with potential HBA cases and will be happy to signpost them to this amazing organisation.”

Is there anything else you would like to share? 

“I just want to say a huge thank you to Savera UK and the team members! Everyone I’ve met has been welcoming and was always there to guide me, they’ve been a major part of my transformative journey. I gained more knowledge personally and professionally because of the team, especially thanks to my practice educator Merfat who was supportive and welcoming throughout.“

Thank you, Sanjana, for all your hard work and best of luck for the future!

Refugees across Britain face many challenges, particularly those who are survivors or those at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices. Last week was Refugee Week so we’re highlighting how Savera UK helps clients with refugee status in the UK to find their ‘new beginning’.

With all HBA and harmful practice cases there can be barriers to help, which is increased  when that individual doesn’t have the same access to government resources due to immigration status. These added barriers can  include language barriers, limited access to additional funds when leaving an abusive situation, lack of awareness of possible help available or not understanding they can seek help at all.

Our specialist Direct Intervention team works closely with clients to combat these barriers.

If a client doesn’t speak English, for example, they can often experience feelings of isolation and may not be aware of the help available to them, so our team works with trusted external translators and interpreters who help us to communicate with them and inform them of their legal rights.   

Outreach work is also vital for networking with community members to educate and raise awareness of what HBA and harmful practices are and where to signpost should they come across these cases. Raising awareness and providing training for professionals through our training plans opens up more opportunities for refugees to receive appropriate help from specialists. 

Professionals are sometimes the only point of contact for survivors and those at risk and should follow the ‘One Chance Rule’. You may only have one chance to save a life. 

We work with many other specialist organisations who and work directly with refugees, so as we reflect on refugee week, we would like to thank Asylum Link Merseyside, Refugee Women Connect, Migrant Help, Merseyside Law Centre, Serco Housing, Brodie Jackson Centre, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit and all our partners for helping us in our mission to end HBA and harmful practices for good.

Savera UK’s Direct Intervention team has been nominated for two prestigious awards, recognising their work helping survivors and people at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.

The team has been nominated for the BBC Merseyside: Make A Difference award, which shines a light on people who go above and beyond in their local communities. 

This achievement recognises the work that the team does to safeguard and advocate for some of the most vulnerable of our society – helping them out of abusive environments and into their new beginnings. 

Finalists will be revealed in the summer and winners announced at a ceremony in September.

Direct Intervention team coordinator, Merfat, has also been named a finalist in the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards 2024. Merfat leads the team with passion and tenacity. 

Last year alone, together, they helped 178 clients, responded to 495 calls to the helpline and spent 2,292 hours working to safeguard those experiencing HBA and harmful practices.

You can vote for Merfat to be this year’s Merseyside Woman of the Year 2024 until Sunday 2nd June 2024: https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/finalists-2024/

Our ‘Student Spotlight’ feature usually highlights the experience of Social Work students who join us for a placement within our Direct Intervention team. However, we also offer volunteering opportunities to students from a wider range of disciplines who are interested in learning more about ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices, alongside their studies.

This month, we spoke to Krinal, a Masters in Investigative & Forensic Psychology student from the University of Liverpool, who volunteered with us this year.

Hi Krinal, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

“I volunteered at Savera UK for nine months, helping out with weekly client activities while utilising the experience from the ‘honour’-based abuse specialists to understand how to correctly respond to HBA and harmful practices. I have since completed my Master’s degree in Investigative and Forensic Psychology from the University of Liverpool and I am passionate about learning about gender-based violence, criminal behaviour and cyber-crime.”

How did you first hear about Savera UK?

“I first heard about the organisation when Afrah, Savera UK CEO and founder, visited my university for a seminar, informing us about ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices. It was an eye-opening reminder that HBA is a deeply under-researched and a less understood topic by most people.”

How did you spend your time at Savera UK?

“I assisted with client activities every Friday where I built relationships with survivors of HBA and facilitated those events supervised by my volunteer coordinator , Reihana. I also would regularly observe the weekly case reviews held by the Direct Intervention team and will be taking away the knowledge I gained into my future roles.”

Of all your tasks, which has been your favourite?

“My favourite aspect was  having involvement with planning of client activities for each month. We always tried to make these sessions engaging and something that the clients would enjoy so it was interesting getting together and thinking of what we could do next to improve their health and wellbeing.”

What were some of the more challenging aspects of the role?

“Personally, it was ensuring that I was  always providing a safe space for survivors by building a working relationship with them. Since I didn’t know their personal journeys with HBA and harmful practices, it was even more crucial that I was sensitive and showed them empathy to build a trusting bond.”

What do you think is the biggest challenge for charities helping  those at risk of harmful practices?

“In my opinion, it would be the lack of awareness and understanding about what HBA and harmful practices actually looks like. Especially because this lack of awareness can  make it less likely for professionals to recognise the signs of this particular type of abuse.

“Not fully understanding the importance of specific interventions that are needed, ultimately has a direct effect on funding and many organisations already don’t have the resources needed to help survivors and those at risk. All of these reduce the chances of adequate help for those at risk of HBA and harmful practices.”

What do you think needs to be done to resolve that?

“I think the first step would be to raise awareness and educate the general population about what HBA and harmful practices can look like. It’s important to also educate professionals that work alongside survivors and those at risk. HBA and harmful practices are not specific to a certain culture or religion and differ from case to case.

“Through my experience with Savera UK, I found that it can be extremely difficult to combat HBA if the professionals involved have limited knowledge. HBA and harmful practices are often complex and require multi-agency advocacy and education. I think Savera UK is doing a brilliant job in addressing these issues by providing training sessions and raising awareness through campaigns and workshops.”

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learnt during your time volunteering with Savera UK?

“For me, it was realising the importance of qualified specialists of HBA for survivors and those at risk. Informed knowledge is vital when creating a safe space for clients. Most of them haven’t had that luxury so sometimes just providing that makes a huge difference. The experience has further developed my interpersonal skills and empathy.”

What did you enjoy the most about your time at Savera UK?

“Definitely interacting with the clients, finding out about their week and developing a relationship with them will always be a memory I cherish. Each one of them has had a difficult journey but seeing them happy and together because of these sessions has been a delight.”

“If you are interested or passionate about learning more about what honour-based abuse and harmful practices are and working to end them, I would highly recommend Savera UK!”

What are your plans for the future?

“For now, it’s working with survivors of sexual abuse as a Multiple Disadvantage ISVA and hopefully empowering more women who have endured so much.”

Thank you Krinal for all your hard work and best of luck with your future endeavours!

Savera UK’s volunteering programme is open to all UK-based volunteers, no matter how much time you have to give and whatever your experience may be. If you are interested in volunteering visit our volunteer page to find out more, or complete our volunteer form.