Diverse Communities Working Group (Oxfordshire) is a multi-agency group that reports to the Diverse Communities Partnership Board (Thames Valley). The group also links with Diverse Communities Working Groups in other areas of the Thames Valley. All these groups have special focus on the specific challenges faced by women from minoritised communities suffering abuse.
Diverse Communities Working Group (Oxfordshire) was initially set up to explore recovery support for women from minoritised communities suffering abuse during the Covid-19 outbreak in Oxfordshire, at the request of Oxfordshire County Council. Prior to the group set up, Oxford Against Cutting (OAC) brought together a temporary working group to consider the additional barriers created by lockdown that prevented women from minoritised communities reaching specialist services. The temporary working group included local stakeholders, Karma Nirvana and the National FGM Centre and OAC subsequently ran a Thames Valley-wide poster campaign to raise awareness of support services.
Diverse Communities Working Group (Oxfordshire) is currently hosted by Oxford Against Cutting, chaired by Kate Agha, Hauwa Suleiman and Guest Co-Chairs, such as Inder Kaur-Singh (Inclusion and Community Engagement Manager for the CPS). Hauwa also coordinates the Group. The group’s activities are informed by the findings from a 2-year Thames Valley BAMER Project Report by Agya Poudyal and the strategy of the Diverse Communities Partnership Board (Thames Valley).
The first initiative of the Oxon group was to create Best Practice Guidance that you can read here.
To promote inclusivity and shared “ownership”, OAC is happy for other members to take turns to run the group to achieve specific objectives over 6-12 month periods. OAC will “hold” the group over the long-term and support the creation of new objectives and the transition of leadership to a new member at the end of each 6-12 month period. If your organisation wishes to lead the group for a period or you would like to learn more please contact Hauwa at news@oxfordagainstcutting.org
The Group’s full terms of reference are here
Schedule of 2023 meetings, all from 10-11.30am on Zoom:
January 19, 2023 Women who can’t/won’t leave
March 30, 2023 Children witnessing abuse
June 29, 2023 Perpetrators and accountability
October 05, 2023 Barriers to services
The topics were suggested by group members and will be finalised nearer the time. All sessions will “stand alone” and any learning will be fed into relevant strategic and operational groups.
Our charity also hosts Case Review meetings for frontline services in Oxfordshire, to share learning on anonymised cases of abuse against women from minoritised communities.
Please email Hauwa at news@oxfordagainstcutting.org for your invitation or to link with contacts in other areas.
Diverse Worlds – Barriers to Services for Bangladeshi Women with Aysha Ahmed
Harmful Practices in the Workplace
Working with victims and survivors from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
Working with victims and survivors from the Jehovah’s Witnesses community
Resources Bank (Protected Characteristics) (Supported by Wokingham Borough Council and Thames Valley PCC)
PCC funded Victims Services Directory Thames Valley
