Hersana Cic

HERSANA CIC is the first and leading Gender-based Violence Support Service providing advice, support and advocacy to Black women and girls [femmes] who have experienced any form of gender-based violence. We were founded in 2016, and have been championing the needs and safety of Black femmes ever since. HERSANA works directly with thousands of Black femmes who have experienced abuse and violence. We specialise in domestic abuse, sexual violence, female genital mutilation, and other forms of abuse including honour-based abuse and forced marriage. We are a service run by Black women, for Black women, and with Black women in mind and at the forefront. We have been working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms whilst providing wholistic support to Black femme survivors by providing advocacy services nationally for Black femmes who need longer-term support. We provide free long-term counselling, as well as short-term emotional and practical support. As a leading expert on violence against women and girls, HERSANA provides accredited and tailored training to a wide range of statutory professionals and workshops to young people and community groups. We use what we learn through working on the frontlines with clients to work for national and local policy change to improve outcomes for Black femme victims and survivors of abuse and violence. We build evidence through key pieces of research. We push for legislative change, improved statutory guidance for victims, and better understanding of the needs of Black femmes around the country. Our mission is to create wholistic, gender-specialist, culturally specific and trauma-informed safe spaces for Black women and girls affected by or at risk of gender-based violence across England, as well as campaign to eradicate violence against women and girls in all its forms. We aim to centre Black femmes in every narrative. Safe spaces designed by us, for you and with you in mind and at the forefront.