Support for black and minoritised women facing domestic violence; South Asian women in sport; Midwives under pressure

The government’s new violence against women and girls strategy was published last Wednesday. Many organisations welcomed the commitments it made but many had criticisms for areas not addressed, not least the specific needs of Black and minoritized women when facing domestic violence. Ngozi Fulani is the founder and director of Sistah Space, a small charity that offers specialist support for African & Caribbean heritage women affected by abuse. Professor Aisha K. Gill is an expert criminologist at University of Roehampton, working on violence against women/girls in Black and minoritised communities for over 20 years. They discuss the needs of these women and how big a problem this is in Black and minoritized communities.

Why there is a lack of visibility of South Asian Women in sport? Mara Hafezi is a women's health coach and personal trainer, working predominantly with South Asian women. An endurance sport enthusiast, she is the Sports Co-Lead for South Asian Heritage Month. Shaheen Kasmani is a senior project manager for Maslaha, an organisation that seeks to change and challenge the conditions that create inequalities for Muslim communities. Shaheen also helps run Muslim Girls Fence - set up to encourage young Muslim women into fencing.

Maternity services in the UK have in recent years faced a series of scandals, reports and investigations - all of which highlight the failings in midwifery. But what do the midwives themselves think of it all? Jessica speaks to two midwives about their experience of working on the front line and what they think needs to happen to turn things around.

What does home mean to you? A place, a physical structure, a deep emotional bond or an absence of any of these? The visual artist Harriet Hill has just completed a month-long walk from her home in South-East London to her childhood home in Mid Wales. She was wearing a costume of the word ‘HOME’, made from yellow canvas over a bamboo and fibreglass frame mounted on a pair of 20” bike wheels. Inside the word was everything she needed to make home for the month of the walk - from a pull-out tent to a solar charger! Passing through diverse communities Harriet investigated the commonalities and differences in how people relate to home.

Presenter: Jessica Creighton Producer: Kirsty Starkey

Interviewed Guest: Shaheen Kasmani Interviewed Guest: Mara Hafezi Interviewed Guest: Professor Aisha K. Gill Interviewed Guest: Ngozi Fulani Interviewed Guest: Harriet Hill