What is the CouRAGEus Project?
CouRAGEus Program is a safe and confidential space for young women, LGTBTQ+ young folks and disabled young people from Black and Global majority communities in London. Together we can explore topics and realities that affect us in daily life such as mental health, wellbeing, affective relationships and consent; how to confront the violence that hurts us and how to be resilient and fight against injustice.
This Program is young people centered, intersectional rooted in Black feminism, antiracist practices, systemic change and Informed Trauma Approach. All the experiences and topics that young people want to explore are welcome! We really valued the initiatives and dreams to live free of any kind of violence.
Who can we help?
We support young women, LGTBTQ+ young folks and disabled young people from Black and Global majority communities in London.
We can support you if:
- You are aged 14-24
- You live, work or study in any London Borough
- You are worried about or have experienced violence, abuse or exploitation
- You are experiencing trauma or emotional distress
What we offer
1:1 Advocacy
Advocacy is emotional and practical support which helps you to have your voice heard, ensuring you get all the resources you need to move forward.
Your advocate will work alongside you and can and help to raise concerns – for example with teachers and social workers.
We offer two different types of Advocacy - Specialist Advocacy for young women who have experienced violence, and face disadvantage because of their identities.
Multiple Disadvantage Advocacy is holistic, long-term specialist support for young black women, LGTBTQ+ young folks and disabled young people from Black and Global majority communities who are experiencing multiple disadvantage or have 'complex needs'.
Counselling
Counselling offers you the opportunity to talk to someone 1:1 to process difficult emotions and experiences.
This can support your wellbeing by building on your personal strengths. Our specialist young women’s counsellors will listen to you, respect and believe you.
Community Engagement Work
This is about us coming out to you to raise awareness and offer support. We offer workshops, activities and group work to increase awareness of violence and abuse, understand healthy relationships and to build young women’s resiliency.
Our Resiliency Programme is a group programme that runs for up to 5 weeks. The programme builds on young women's strengths, supporting each young woman to understand how they can use their strengths to thrive in the face of life's challenges. The sessions cover a variety of topics including self-care, emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships and resisting injustice.
We also provide training to professionals and parents to ensure the whole community is empowered to support you.
Experts by Experience Programme
Young women are experts in their own lives: you know best how services can support you. We have lots of opportunities for young women to help shape the support we offer whilst learning new skills. This means our work is always led by the needs and wishes of young women like you.
CouRAGEus Values
We are committed to a better future for young women through resistance, resilience and rebellion!
We look to amplify your strengths. We see young women’s RAGE and resistance as a powerful force not something to be silenced
We respect your privacy!
This means we will not share information about you without your consent unless you or someone else is at risk of serious harm.
If we think we might need to share any information about you we will talk to you about this first.
We Celebrate Diversity!
We understand the challenges that come with the different parts of your identity as a young woman - including ethnicity, disability, class, immigration status, gender and sexual identity. We are here to work with you to overcome these challenges.
We see you for you!
We understand that finding the right support can be difficult. We are a diverse group of organisations who will work together to ensure you get the best support for your needs.
We believe in healing!
We understand the impact of trauma on your wellbeing and behaviour. We do not judge you because of the difficult experiences you have had. We will support you to move forward.
Getting support from our Partners
Here you can find information about our partners and how they can support you. We've organised them based on where they work, so you can find the right support for where you live, work or study.
If you'd like support but you're not sure where to start, you can call Women and Girls Network's Advice Line on 0808 801 0660 or email us at couRAGEus@wgn.org.uk (note that we cannot accept referral forms to this inbox).
GALOP
Who do we support? LGBT+ young people of any gender
What areas do we cover? All of London
What support do we provide? Specialist Advocacy
Service status: Currently accepting referrals
How to get in touch: referrals@galop.org.uk or 07555 278225
Online referral form: here
Publicity leaflet: download
IKWRO - Women's Rights Organisation
Who do we support? Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls
What areas do we cover? All of London
What support do we provide? Specialist Advocacy, Therapy
Support can be provided in Farsi, Dari, Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish and Pashto
Service status: Currently only accepting high risk/needs referrals for advocacy and counselling
How to get in touch: advice@ikwro.org.uk or 020 7920 6460
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Respond
Who do we support? Young women with learning disabilities and/or autism
What areas do we cover? All of London
What support do we provide? Specialist Advocacy
Service status: Waiting list is currently closed
How to get in touch: referrals@respond.org.uk or 020 7383 0700
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Jewish Women's Aid
Who do we support? Jewish women and girls
What areas do we cover? All of London
What support do we provide? Specialist Advocacy, Therapy
Service status: Currently accepting referrals
How to get in touch: clientsupport@jwa.org.uk or 020 8445 8060
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Solace Women’s Aid
Who do we support? Young women
What areas do we cover? Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.
What support do we provide? Multiple Disadvantage Advocacy, Therapy, Community Engagement Work
Service status: Advocacy waiting list is closed to new referrals; Counselling waiting lists is closed to new referrals.
We always welcome referrals for young women who would benefit from the Resiliency Programme. Please refer using the standard referral form.
How to get in touch: cypservice@solacewomensaid.org or 07484010014
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Women and Girls Network
Who do we support? Young women
What areas do we cover? South and West London
What support do we provide? Multiple Disadvantage Advocacy (in Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark only), Therapy, Community Engagement Work
Service status: Advocacy waiting list is open to new referrals; Counselling waiting list is closed to new referrals.
Our waiting list for the Resiliency Programme is open to new referrals.
Self-identifying young women and non-binary young people aged 11-21 are welcome to sign-up to our Wellbeing Club which runs online every 2 weeks.
How to get in touch: ywa@wgn.org.uk or WGN Advice Line: 0808 801 0660
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Solace Women’s Aid
Who do we support? Young women
What areas do we cover? Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Our Community Engagement Worker also covers Sutton and Bexley.
What support do we provide? Multiple Disadvantage Advocacy, Therapy, Community Engagement Work
Service status: Advocacy waiting list is closed to new referrals; Counselling waiting lists is closed to new referrals.
We always welcome referrals for young women who would benefit from the Resiliency Programme. Please refer using the standard referral form.
How to get in touch: cypservice@solacewomensaid.org or 07484010014
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Ashiana Network
Who do we support? BME women and girls
What areas do we cover? Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.
What support do we provide? Specialist Advocacy, Multiple Disadvantage Advocacy, Therapy
Support can be provided in South Asian and Middle Eastern Languages.
Service status: Currently accepting advocacy referrals; Counselling waiting list is closed to new referrals
How to get in touch: info@ashiana.org.uk or 020 8539 0427
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Nia
Who do we support? Young women
What areas do we cover? East London
What support do we provide? Specialist Advocacy, Community Engagement Work
Waiting list status: Currently accepting advocacy referrals to waiting list.
We always welcome referrals for young women who would benefit from the Resiliency Programme. Please refer using the standard referral form.
How to get in touch: For Advocacy: Helpline - 0800 160 1036 or rapecrisis@niaendingviolence.org.uk
For Community Engagement: info@niaendingviolence.org.uk or 020 7683 1270
Referral Form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Women and Girls Network
Who do we support? Young women
What areas do we cover? South and West London
What support do we provide? Multiple Disadvantage Advocacy (in Brent, Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark only), Therapy, Community Engagement Work
Service status: Advocacy waiting list is closed to new referrals; our Counselling waiting list is closed to new referrals.
Our waiting list for the Resiliency Programme is closed to new referrals.
We also have our LGBTQ+ club called Fruit Loops. It is a twice monthly in person social space for LGBTQIA+ young people aged 15-22 to come together and have fun. Sign up here -> https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/fruitloops
How to get in touch: ywa@wgn.org.uk or WGN Advice Line: 0808 801 0660
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Advance
Who do we support? Young women
What areas do we cover? Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster
What support do we provide? Specialist Advocacy
Service status: Currently accepting referrals
How to get in touch: angelou@advancecharity.org.uk, secure.admin@advance.cjsm.net or 07398 454 898
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download
Southall Black Sisters
Who do we support? BME women and girls
What areas do we cover? Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kingston-Upon-Thames and Richmond.
What support do we provide? Multiple Disadvantage Advocacy
Support can be provided in Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu.
Service status: Currently accepting referrals
How to get in touch: info@southallblacksisters.co.uk or 020 8571 9595
Referral form: download
Publicity leaflet: download