To register your interest please click here.

This year the training is Area Based – the courses offered in each of the four Birmingham areas is based upon feedback from workers in these areas. For each course, we will give priority to workers from that area; however, not all courses are available in all areas. We also offer some of the courses in a city-centre venue, where priority will be given to workers whose remit is Birmingham-wide. See below for descriptions of areas.

Our Level 1 course – Awareness of Domestic Violence through Birmingham’s Domestic Violence Standards – is essential for workers who have had no previous domestic violence training. Please do not book onto a Level 2 course unless you have undertaken this training.

The Violence Against Women & Children training is appropriate for professionals working for organisation which provide services for women and children, including:

• The health service
• The police, probation and courts
• Statutory and voluntary sector social services
• Statutory and voluntary sector advice/ advocacy services

If you are not sure of your eligibility, please contact 0121 685 8687. See below for wards in each area.

PDF: Violence Against Women & Children training 2012

Word: Violence Against Women & Children training 2012

Booking form: Violence Against Women & Children training 2012 Booking Form

For many people, Christmas and New Year is a great time of joy but it can be difficult for those living in fear of violence or abuse in their own homes. Domestic violence is not just a private matter and everyone need needs to be involved in helping victims and as well as raising awareness about this issue you can also practically help to support families in their first nights during this difficult time.

Nationally, there were more than a million female victims of domestic violence in England and Wales last year.  And every week two of those women lose their lives at the hands of a current or former partner. Unfortunately this issue is particularly prominent during the Christmas and New Year period and last year for example, over 200 women in south Birmingham presented themselves as homeless as a result of suffering domestic violence over December and January.

There are a range of domestic violence and sexual violence services available in Birmingham, funded and delivered by organisations such as Birmingham City Council and Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid. These encompass advice and support through to emergency accommodation and refuge. Central to this campaign is the support provided in the city through its network of refuges and last year for example, approximately 125 women and 300 children spent their Christmas and New Year in refuges in Birmingham.

If you would like to help, from 5th December to 9th January there will be various collection points around the city where you can donate a number of items such as colouring books and toiletries to help make a difficult first night in refuge easier.  For further information please refer to the attached poster or visit www.birminghamcsp.org.uk

First Night Campaign poster

How can you get involved and help?

1.  Make a donation – suitable items which families can use on their first nights in refuge including colouring books, pencils and crayons, puzzles, books to read, toiletries and chocolate. See below for collection points/ dates.

2.  Display posters – you can print off the PDF or request a number of A2 and A3 posters. These can be delivered to you to promote the campaign within your facilities and potentially advertise them as collection points.

3.  Circulate this information to your colleagues, staff and mailing lists to raise awareness of the campaign and encourage people to make a donation.

4.  Become a collection and donation point – if you are interested in your centre/ facility becoming a collection point, please contact us to arrange this.  Appropriate collection days and times can then be arranged with you and with your permission your details will also be added to the list of collection points.  These will be promoted on the Birmingham Community Safety Partnership and Women’s Aid websites.

5.  Bring your donations along to the South Birmingham Domestic Abuse Forum, the next meeting of which takes place on 15^th December.

Venues for First Night campaign donations
15th December only – South Birmingham Domestic Abuse Forum meeting, 9.00am – 12.30pm. Billesley Hub, 725 Yardley Wood Road, Billesley, B13 0PT

Selly Oak Constituency Office, 1459 Pershore Rd, Stirchley, B30 2JL

Maypole Childrens Centre, 15 Grendon Road, Warstock, B14 4RB

Woodgate Valley Fire Station, 161 Stonehouse Lane, Quinton, B32 3AG

Bournville Lane Police Station, 341 Bournville Lane, Bournville, B30 1QX

Allens Croft Childrens Centre, Allens Croft Road, Kings Heath, B14 6RP

Northfield Fire Station, South Road, Northfield, B31 2RB (collection on 15th December)

Chinn Brook Childrens Centre, 213 Trittiford Road, Billesley, B13 0ET

Fox Hollies Leisure Centre, Shirley Rd, Acocks Green B27 7NS

Stechford Cascades, Station Rd, Stechford, B33 8QN

Louisa Ryland House, 44 Newhall Street, city centre, B3 3PL (BCC Performance Review Team)

Birmingham Womens Hospital, Mindlesohn Way, Edgbaston, B15 2TG

If you wish to find out more about the campaign, offer your venue for donations or order posters, please go to our Contact Us page.

One hundred and sixty visitors signed the visitors’ book, 66 of whom also signed up to our mailing list.

We asked “What Three Things does the name Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid mean to you?” – here are some replies:

“Thank goodness you exist! Fantastic support for women.”

“Giving women freedom. Shelter from harm. Protection for their family.”

“A recognisable source for violence. First point of call for help. A valuable service needed more widely and proactively in the community.”

“Just knowing you EXIST MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. I am so glad you are here. For all that need you.”

We also asked visitors to give us feedback about what they think about BSWA and any ideas for improvement -

Tell us one good thing about your experience of BSWA:

“The help you give is invaluable.

Very friendly workers, make you feel very welcome.”

“It’s an amazing organisation, the women’s accounts of what they have been through moved me to tears, the service provided is wonderful.”

Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

“Keep up the amazing work, u are really making a difference.”

“You offer a great service.”

“The entire experience has been great. I didn’t think I’d feel this welcome and get the amount of information as I did, so thanks for that.”

We will be holding another event in Solihull in November . . . watch this space!