Voices of Hope, a Kingston Upon Thames based charity, in collaboration with Robyn Harper Photography and the Royal Borough of Kingston Council, has announced the launch of the Pearl Project 2024. This groundbreaking initiative aims to celebrate the resilience and triumphs of survivors of gender-based abuse through the mediums of creative writing, photography, and short films.
The Pearl Project invites women from across the SW London area to share their stories of overcoming abuse. Through a collaboration with these courageous women, the project aims to raise awareness, break the stigma surrounding abuse, and inspire hope and change in the local community. The stories will be showcased in a photography exhibition and a special evening of performances and awards on November 16, 2024.
“We believe in the power of storytelling to heal and inspire,” said Sarah Clay, Project Director. “The Pearl Project is a celebration of strength, and we are honored to provide a platform for these incredible women to share their journeys.”
This will be the second Pearl Project, following the successful launch of the first in 2022. Working closely with the women every step of the way to ensure their safety, security, and control, the project witnessed the incredible transformation in the confidence of each participant as they shared their stories. The sold-out awards event left attendees feeling inspired and filled with admiration for the women.
Businesses interested in supporting the event can become sponsors for the awards evening or provide goodie bags for the participants. In return, their support will be recognized across all communications from Voices of Hope and its partners, the London Fire Brigade and SW Trains.
Tickets for the awards on November 16, 2024, will be available for general release from October 20, 2024. Women interested in participating can email kwhub@voh.org.uk, and businesses interested in supporting the event can email neeraja.j@voh.org.uk.
If anyone is experiencing abuse, they can contact Kingston One Stop Shop or Getting It On for support.
Event details:
Date: November 16, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: 161A Clarence Street, Kingston, London, KT1 1QT.
Admission: Free (Donations encouraged)
Interview Opportunities:
Please contact jacqui.gray@voh.org.uk to arrange an interview with the following:
Participants: Survivors sharing their stories.
Organizers: Representatives from Voices of Hope, Robyn Harper Photography, and the Royal Borough of Kingston.
About Voices of Hope:
Voices of Hope is a Kingston Upon Thames founded charity dedicated to bringing hope to individuals and the wider community. The organization aims to build a sense of belonging by tackling isolation and empowering individuals to unlock their true potential. They reach approximately 3075 people each week through their projects, including Women’s Hub, Creative Arts, and Food Projects.
Voices of Hope started in 2019 as an unregistered charity with several community choirs reaching women who had experienced abuse or faced long-term physical or mental health difficulties, as well as older people in care homes. By January 2020, the organization was running 11 choir projects and a wellbeing session for women called Sisterhood Sanctuary. In January 2020, they gained their charity registration.
In 2021, Voices of Hope founded the Kingston Women’s HUB, a partnership of organizations providing holistic support for women who have experienced domestic violence, the criminal justice system, abuse, or multiple disadvantages. The partnership offers crisis support, peer mentoring, women’s community sessions, survivor forums, and preventative work.
Contacts:
Voices of Hope:
Sarah Clay, CEO sarah.clay@voh.org.uk
Jacqui Gray, Event Manager jacqui.gray@voh.org.uk
For more information on the Pearl Project and Voices of Hope, please visit their website: https://voh.org.uk/pearl-project/
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