Charity handed windfall to help ethnic minority women

Apna Haq was set up to help victims of child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour based violence within the Asian and black minority ethnic (BME) communities.

A year on from the Jay Report on child sex abuse, the charity received a windfall from police and crime comissioner Dr Alan Billings.

He said: “We are all very aware now of child sexual exploitation, both historically and ongoing, not least because it is a year since Prof Jay published her report.

“I welcome the help of groups such as Apna Haq in raising awareness and providing support to individuals at risk of harm.”

Dr Billings said that he had awarded the funding to allow Apna Haq to “continue with their work in Rotherham raising awareness among women within minority communities”.

He stated that all forms of abuse were “legally and morally wrong” and he suggested that all women and girls “should be helped to recognise when it is happening” and “be encouraged to seek help."

Apna Haq chief executive Zlakha Ahmed said: “Women have a right to live their lives free of violence and intimidation.

“We offer a culturally appropriate service and challenge the understandings around the cause of abuse.

“Awareness-raising and changing attitudes has a beneficial effect in enabling victims to come forward.”

Ms Ahmed said the funnding would allow Apna Haq to “reach more women in the Asian and BME communities of Rotherham by putting on focus groups and workshops in schools”.