We are delighted to tell you the good news that ACF launched its new female outreach team today.
Diane Andrews, Hate Crime Reduction Lead Officer and Sergeant Mark Galliers from the Met Police were among the guests that gathered outside the ACF office this morning for a photo call with the new team.
Sonia, Clementine, Fatima, Rokeya, Ayesha and Colelle are a multi-faith, multi-cultural team that have come together to reach out to potentially isolated or ‘at risk’ women and to get them to engage in their community.
Javid Rehman, ACF’s lead outreach officer, explained that the new service for women of all ages would fill a gap in the services available locally: “There is nothing out there for women in Waltham Forest. There is a real need for a centre for females to go to, where they can meet other women, make new friends and build a support network.”
Spurred on by the success of our award-winning male outreach team, ACF has assembled and trained a team of volunteers within three weeks. The female outreach team is already going out on to the streets, engaging with women of all ages and inviting them along to our female only drop-ins.
“We’re all really excited about this project and what we can achieve through it. ACF female outreach will become a focal point for women’s issues and concerns in the local community.” said Sonia, ACF outreach volunteer.
The ACF centre will open its doors on Saturday to a female-only crowd for the first time. The sessions will offer advocacy, support, resources and opportunities for women to translate their concerns into action. Activities such as arts and crafts and debates will bring together female participants from all walks of life with common interests.
Hanif Qadir, Founder and current Projects & Programme Director said, “This is a symbolic moment for ACF. This new initiative is essentially designed to mobilise the women in our communities, who have a significant role to play in making active changes. This new, unique team will break many boundaries and bridge the gap to enable crucial engagement with the women in our society at large.”
In the future, ACF plan to open the centre for more female-only sessions during the week, and will evolve female outreach to adapt to the needs and wants of the diverse group of women that will come through their doors.
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