Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

What is Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

'Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life’. (United Nations)

Abuse can happen to anyone regardless of their economic status, gender, religion, ethnicity, or age.

VAWG includes the following:
     • Domestic abuse
     • Sexual violence
     • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
     • Forced marriage
     • Stalking and harassment
     • Prostitution
     • Trafficking
     • So-called 'Honour' Based Violence
     • Child sexual exploitation

You may be experiencing a form of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and wish to discuss this further with one of our specialist workers.

If you want to talk about how you feel, get advice or find support, you can meet with one of our specialist workers at one of our ‘Drop In’ which provides a safe, confidential and non-judgemental place for anyone to seek advice in relation to their safety, wellbeing and practical needs.

VAWG drop in sessions run at the following locations and times:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am to 4pm at Leyton Family Hub, 215 Queens Road, Leyton, E17 8PJ

Thursday at 10am to 4pm at Leytonstone Family Hub, 2 to 8 Cathall Rd, London E11 4LF
and Walthamstow Family Hub, 313 Billet Road, E17 5PX

Friday at 10am to 1pm at Chingford Family Hub
5 Oaks Grove, Chingford, E4 6EY

VAWG Whole School Approach:
The Council’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Team, leading on our work with schools, colleges, and other education settings. We provide a whole school approach to addressing VAWG in schools (both primary and secondary), colleges and PRUs.

As part of our work, we provide sessions for students; training for teachers, other staff, and school governors; and coffee mornings for parents. Our approach predominantly focuses on primary prevention with young people by changing attitudes, norms, and behaviour. Sessions are run by members of the VAWG team and external partners. Through this work, we aim to support educational settings to be more informed about VAWG related issues and how to provide adequate trauma-informed support for their students.

We can develop bespoke, age-appropriate sessions as part of your wider work, or in response to incidents or concerning behaviour you may identify within a year group or a group of students. Email us for more details. 

We believe VAWG work within school settings for students and staff is paramount. It would be great to work closely with schools, colleges and pupil referral units to make this happen. Many schools and colleges have already had some sessions tailored to their students and staff.

Referral and eligibility

No referral is required to attend a Drop in session.

We accept self-referrals and referrals from professionals to our VAWG team. To request further information, please email the VAWG team for further details. 

This service is suitable for

• Women