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Tackling Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Trust for London, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Rosa Fund, three independent charitable organisations, have collaborated to establish a UK-wide Special Initiative to fund community based, preventative work to safeguard children from the practice of Female Genital Mutilation. By supporting organisations based within practising communities, the initiative will strengthen the voice of women and children already affected, or at risk of genital mutilation in all its forms. Approximately £1million has been invested in 15 organisations across the UK.

Aim

To develop and/or strengthen community-based preventive work to protect the rights of children (as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) with a particular view to reducing the risk to girls and young women in the UK of undergoing genital mutilation in all its forms.

Objectives

To develop projects within community organisations to raise awareness among practising communities about UK law and the health and psychological risks of FGM.
To increase the confidence of women, men and young people within practising communities to reject this procedure as part of their identity.
To increase the skills and capacity within practising communities to influence individuals, groups, and statutory agencies.
To strengthen the voice of women and communities speaking out against FGM.
To improve co-ordination of activities amongst voluntary and community groups and statutory agencies working on this issue.

Funding

Trust for London has invested £554,000 in this initiative including grants to:

Africa Advocacy Foundation - £80,000 over three years towards the Sacred Bodies project which includes the employment of a part-time worker and a programme of community development work with small community groups in south London to raise awareness of the harmful practice of FGM. The work will be in partnership with North Brixton Islamic Cultural Centre.

Black Women's Health & Family Support - £69,000 over three years towards a project that will build on its extensive work with young people through the Peer Education Project to raise awareness of FGM amongst a wider range of young people, community elders, and newer communities. It will also offer training for health professionals, schools, social workers, community organisations and youth workers.

British Somali Community - £80,000 over three years to employ a part-time outreach and advocacy worker to establish the Himilo (tackling) FGM Project. A significant element of the work will be empowering young people to speak out against the practice.

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust - £94,000 over three years towards the Health Advocacy FGM Initiative which will target practising communities in Islington, Haringey and Hackney incorporating training, advocacy and support. The Project will employ health advocates from practicing communities to deliver the work.

Ocean Somali Community Association - £90,000 over three years towards the cost of the Stop FGM Campaign which will include working with young people and the Al-Huda Mosque.

Southall Community Alliance - £80,000 over three years owards employing a part-time FGM Project Officer to deliver a programme of work on preventing FGM in Ealing, particularly Southall and Acton. The project is in partnership with Tallo Information Centre.

Sudan Women Association - £12,000 over 18 months towards the costs of running a programme of workshops on raising awareness about the harmful practice of FGM.

In addition, our partners have funded organisations doing similar work outside London. A list of these is here.