Hull Sisters appeal for help to find new home to support abused women from minority backgrounds

A Yorkshire organisation dedicated to helping women from ethnic minorities overcome human rights issues has continued to appeal for help to find a new home.
The Humber Bridge, which connects to Hull. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.The Humber Bridge, which connects to Hull. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.
The Humber Bridge, which connects to Hull. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe.

The not-for-profit Hull Sisters has set up a fundraising campaign, aiming to build up £160,000 to pay for a permanent location to help women who have faced violence and abuse, racism and discrimination, immigration issues, female genital mutilation, trafficking, poverty and poor health.

More than 485 women and their children from a range of minority backgrounds receive support from Hull Sisters, but the organisation was evicted from the base it had used since 2012 and has been "homeless" for weeks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Hull City Council, which was not the group's previous landlord, has offered short-term tenancy options to meet "immediate needs".

The organisation says the options they have been given are unsuitable and cannot afford them.

It requires somewhere that can be accessed permanently, during long hours and with enough space that is suitable for women facing sensitive issues.

Sonia Jalal, who runs Hull Sisters, said: "Women are desperate to have a place but we don't have that place.

"It's not a big demand."

So far the group has managed to raise £1,544 online.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The group's Go Fund Me appeal reads: "We need a permanent roof over our heads to be able to help women and children who rely on us.

"Our future is now uncertain and despite many empty buildings available in the area, we haven't been offered any long-term solutions.

"They are not listening to our needs."

A Hull City Council spokesperson said: “Hull City Council were first approached by the Hull Sisters Support Group when their existing landlord gave notice to terminate their lease with a request that the Council consider whether there are premises that the organisation may be able to lease from the Council in the short and longer term.

"The Council has an adopted concessionary lettings policy which guides its approach to letting premises to ensure that it considers such requests equitably.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The organisation has been offered use of Council premises in the short term to assist it to address its immediate needs.

"Any longer term response will need to be considered in the light of adopted policy to ensure that the Council follows a fair and consistent approach as would be the case with any other community organisation.”

To read more about the Hull Sisters fundraising campaign or donate, visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/safe-shelter-amp-centre-for-bame-women-in-hull.

Related topics: