Birmingham Charities Launch Sport-Based Initiative to Tackle Violence Against Women and Girls
Three prominent charities operating from Birmingham are spearheading a groundbreaking five-year programme funded by Comic Relief. The initiative, supported by the newly launched £3.9 million Tackling Harmful Norms Fund, aims to use sports and physical activities as tools to foster positive masculinity and prevent violence against women and girls.
Addressing a Critical National Issue
Statistics reveal that over two million women in the UK are affected by male violence annually. The Comic Relief fund seeks to establish safe, positive environments where sport serves not merely as a diversion but as a catalyst for developing healthy relationships and a sense of community. This approach also targets harmful gender stereotypes that permeate various aspects of society.
Former England Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps, a vocal supporter of the fund, emphasized its importance. "Comic Relief is using the power of sport to reach young boys, to support and educate them, and build allies to challenge harmful behaviour," she stated. "This work will create strong role models in our communities, promote healthy attitudes, and build a safer world for women and girls so everyone can thrive."
Meet the Charities Driving Change
The three organisations—Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid, Roshni, and Respect—are among seven specialist community-led groups across London and the West Midlands selected for this programme. Each charity employs sports like football, cricket, and netball to engage boys and young men, encouraging them to become role models and leaders while championing respect and healthy masculinity.
Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid
Founded in the late 1970s, this charity provides refuge and support services to women and children experiencing domestic abuse in the region. It offers trained volunteers in public settings such as hospitals and police stations, assists with court cases, and operates six refuge centres catering to diverse needs, from abuse in young relationships to immigrant women facing honour-based abuse. Between 2024 and 2025, the charity supported 5,061 women through casework and handled over 26,000 helpline calls.
With Comic Relief funding, Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid is partnering with Warwickshire Cricket Club to deliver sessions for young people. Coaches will be trained to discuss mutual respect and stereotypes of women in sports and leadership roles, leading to age-appropriate conversations about domestic abuse.
Head of Service Sally Dennis explained, "We will be adjusting the programme all the time to better meet the needs of the children we are working with. We are not under any illusions we are going to end violence against women and girls by doing this, but what we are doing is giving them tools so they know where they can go to for help."
Roshni
Roshni focuses on preventing domestic abuse among women and girls of South Asian heritage while empowering young girls to break traditional cultural views and pursue aspirations beyond early marriage. Through multilingual services, it challenges mindsets of young males who may believe girls should not work, and offers trauma therapy, refuges, and an honour-based abuse helpline. Annually, the organisation assists between 800 and 1,000 women from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.
Using Comic Relief funding, Roshni plans to leverage sport as a springboard to build rapport with young people aged 11 to 14. This will facilitate open, age-appropriate discussions about domestic abuse and inspire girls to pursue careers and financial independence for greater freedom.
Project manager Shaila Pervrez noted, "I go out to schools, colleges, universities with the police and social services, and I’ve realised I’m picking up a pattern. The pattern was how girls had no aspirations and they didn’t really try hard in their GCSEs, as a lot of these girls believed that after school they would be getting married, so there was no reason really to apply themselves. This is why the project was born really."
Respect
Respect is a UK charity dedicated to stopping perpetrators of domestic abuse. Founded in 2000 by Jo Todd CBE, it focuses on perpetrators, including young people who cause harm, and works with partners to develop strategic, multi-agency responses. The charity also supports male victims of domestic abuse and promotes safe, effective practices.
With Comic Relief support, Respect's young people’s services will expand its existing toolkit, 'The Dating Detox,' which educates young people about healthy relationships, masculinity, and gender equality. The charity will train sports coaches and mentors to deliver sessions, co-designed with input from young people, using sport to build relationships and encourage participation.
Alice Lilley, Implementation Lead for the Young People’s Programme, said, "Our focus is very much on prevention and early intervention, changing beliefs and changing attitudes. This funding is about positive masculinity and positive relationships, so it just felt like a really good fit for us."
Comic Relief's Broader Mission
Comic Relief is a UK charity that uses entertainment and popular culture to work towards a just world free from poverty. It raises funds to support organisations close to communities driving change, addressing poverty, injustice, conflict, and climate change globally. As a leading 'sport for change' funder, it has supported over 500 projects in the past two decades, using sport as a powerful tool for social transformation beyond physical benefits.
This Birmingham-based initiative exemplifies how sport can be harnessed to tackle deep-seated social issues, promoting a culture of respect and safety for all.
