Mothers Against Violence

 Volunteer Day!  

Mothers Against Violence (MAV) invite you to our Annual Volunteer day on the evening of 24th November 2011 at 7.30pm  at 53 Old Birley Street, Manchester M15 5RF.   

The evening is to help us show our appreciation to our many volunteers and to introduce new opportunities for volunteering. If you would like to attend please feel free to come along. You can also confirm by contacting the MAV Team by phone, email or our social networking  websites. At the event we will be making final plans for the MAV Donation day which will be held across Manchester on 8th December 2011.

You can also make a donation now by clinking on our ”Donate Now” link.  

Thank You!

We are happy to give more information on the events. Please get in touch by phone or email.     

Phone: 0161 2268134

office@mavuk.org

Through Unity Annual Conference Putting Victims First

Mothers Against Violence Chairperson Ian Swanston attended the Through Unity Annual Conference Putting Victims First, held in London on the 19th October at the Abbey Centre, Westminster. The conference was delivered in association with Through Unity and Victim Support. Victim Support recently supported MAV’s “A Community Counselling & Emotional Support Service” (ACCESS) with funding for the project. The conference focused on those who have lost loved ones as a result of murder and aggression. Speakers included Ann Oakes-Odger MBE who lost her son in an unprovoked act of violence on the 12^th September 2005, when he was fatally stabbed in the neck. He had celebrated his 27^th Birthday only weeks earlier. Ms Oakes-Odger spoke of the journey she had taken after his death which brought her to a place in which she founded her charity KnifeCrimes.Org in 2006, supporting families bereaved by murder and manslaughter. KnifeCrimes.Org also has an education programme called “Westley’s Weapons Awareness” MAV Chairperson said; I felt extremely moved by Ann’s story. Ann spoke of a time two weeks before her son’s murder, when while shopping she saw flowers laid outside a flower shop, it was strange to her as the flowers were clearly not for sale. She felt compelled to go into the shop and ask why the followers were all laid outside in such away. As she asked the shop assistant about the flowers, a lady approached her from behind, she said; thanks for asking about the followers, there for my son, he died in his sleep after a night out, doctors  think it could have been drugs. Ann replied; I am sorry I can’t imagine what you must be going through. Ann said she was not to know that only two weeks later she would know the loss of a son.  http://www.knifecrimes.org/      

Another conference speaker was Mark One, real name Mark Walters. Mark is a Bafta Award winning director, and creative Director and CEO of Mark One Group, a motivational speaker and anti gun and knife campaigner. Mark introduced his new film “After Effects” which looked at the impact of receiving the news that your loved one has been murdered. MAV Chairperson said; The film brought me back to the day I received the news of my younger brother’s murder. I felt Mark really captured the impact of hearing the news extremely well through film. I do hope the film will be used throughout schools and youth offending services, helping young people better understand the impact of such crime on families like my own. The night my brother was shot the impact of bullet came through each member of my family and this pain was also felt by many of my brother’s friends.  http://www.markone.tv/ 

There were performances from the amazing singer song writer Camera Fearon better known as MizzCamara.  MizzCamara the proud winner of the Spirit of London Music Award in 2010 preformed one of her own songs. MizzCamara said: we should stand up as people because strength comes through unity.  http://www.myspace.com/mizzcamara

The Chickenshed Theatre Company preformed their powerful production, Crime of the Century. MAV Chairperson felt the performances from MizzCamara and Chickenshed were the highlight of the conference, he said: I love creativity; and MizzCamara and Chickenshed had stacks of it. MizzCamara song writing and voice was simply spellbinding. The combination of dance and acting from Chickenshed captured the thoughts and experiences of the younger generating. There was also a challenging message for all of us as adults. It was a pleasure to meet and take photographs with the performers. After the conference I got to tell them how much their performances inspired me.    http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/1018/shows/crime-of-the-century-at-the-scoop.html

Other Speakers included Dr Terry Ryall Chief Executive of “V” the National Young Volunteers Service set up in May 2006 and Baroness Newlove of Warrington.  Baroness Newlove was appointed by the Government as a champion for active, safe communities. Baroness Newlove lost her husband Garry Newlove in 2007. Gary was murdered by a teenage gang in the street in front of his young daughters.   MAV hope to send a reprehensive to this annual event next year.

Mother Against Violence (MAV) have completed the first year of support with A Community Counselling & Emotional Support Service (ACCESS).  ACCESS is a combination of services which provide Therapeutic and Cognitive behavioural support for those in the inner city of Manchester who have suffered as a result of social issues, which include gun crime, knife crime, anti-social behaviour and mental health issues. ACCESS also provides support for those who may find it hard to access public services due to finance, fear or stigma. ACCESS also provides group work, the service is currently completing the delivery of therapeutic and behavioural support for young people and fathers in Manchester.  

The Victim Support funding has enabled ACCESS to meet the needs of victims in six key areas:

• Traumatic Death; support for victims families & Friends 
• Children & Young people 0-18 victims of anti social behaviours
• Mentoring & CBT support for victims of crime
• Counselling for inner city victims of crime
• Group work for victims
• Respite for victims family and friends  

Over 60 session of group work and one to one therapy has been completed in schools across Greater Manchester throughout 2010-2011. ACCESS has also provided mentoring with additional education support for a growing Islamic African Somali community. The mentoring educational programme has been run by Somali group workers, who have a clearer understanding of the needs for this marginalised group. The team of workers have provided support for primary school children and adults.  

ACCESS have worked with Fathers Against Violence (FAV) supporting the development  of a Fathers Group which had now secured its own funding through the Home Office. The additional funding will now allow FAV to continue the support for fathers for two years. ACCESS has agreed to continue to provide additional support and therapy throughout the duration of the fathers group.

The funding from Victim Support have also allowed us to provide respite for over 120 families in the inner city of Manchester this support was combined with the Million Mothers Milling Event (MMM). The event highlighted the bereavement issues on those family and friends who have lost loved ones as a result of murder. The BE SAFE theme allowed families a free fun day out in Manchester and London. Many of these families have experienced the effects of gun and knife crime.

There have been a total of 108 sessions of one to one mentoring and counselling for young people and children between the ages of 8-18. Some referrals have been from as far as Wigan in Greater Manchester.  ACCESS has provided 53 counselling sessions for adults. Much of the counselling has been for those who have experience the impact of traumatic death such as murder.  

The ACCESS project has also provided a total of 12 parenting support session. 

ACCESS is now seeking funding for the second year and hope services who value the need of therapeutic and emotional support such as Victim Support will be able to support this valuable service.

The evaluation of the service has shown over 85 % of people who have engaged with the service have benefited positively.

Clients Evaluation comments

(Names have been changed and request was granted before using these quotes)  

After the murder of my partner I tried counselling but never felt understood. Then I got the number of Mothers Against Violence. They referred me to their counsellor.  I felt understood after the first session. I would never have been able to go back to work or face the trial of my partner without the counselling support.

Vanessa 25+years

I can only talk about my dad leaving and never seeing us again in my mentoring sessions. I am angry and violent towards my mum and family, I often don’t know why. I am glad I get to talk to my mentor and get his support.    

Shawn 13 years 

If you need support please contact MAV ACCESS Project on 0798 406 6771 

MAV Office:  0161 226 8134

Email: ian@mavuk.org

For more on Victim Support see our website Links

 MAV Visit Denmark!  September 2011  

Grundtvig University invites for the third consecutive year to three day seminar on gang violence. 120 professionals, politicians, ex offenders, volunteers and leading Danish and international scientists will meet for three days to present, discuss and develop strategies. A meeting between professionals, researchers, potiticians, volunteers and former offenders.

Tony Winters from Street Pastors organised a visiting group from a Denmark University to visit MAV in May as part of their comparative work with gangs. After further consultation, Tony organised a trip for two members of MAV to visit Denmark.  Julie Boyle (MAV Secretary) and Patsy McKie (MAV Founder) attend “Gang crime, new developments, prevention and exit” seminar in collaboration with Grundtvigs Højskole School and Eurogang network.  MAV were asked to deliver an educational presentation and share experiences.    

The seminar began with a welcome by Søren Lerche our host,  with discussions surrounding border co-operation, an update from the chief of police Kim Kliver of conflict in gang wars in denmark, a view of profit as a motivating factor in gang conflict by Morten Frich and finally a review of American gang reserach and how it contributes to preventative work by Finn Espensen.  Workshops on the involvement of civil society (community) included: 

•  Involvement of civil society: Focus on training and organizing volunteers by Tony Winter Street Pastors  & MAV 
• Focus on involvement and mobilization of volunteers by Steen Søgaard
• ‘Your Cop’ Community policing and community involvement at Nørrebro Police and local actors.

During the three day event the theme of international inspiration and co-operation with a presentation by Scott Decker on international research on exit strategies and Elmar Weitekamp spoke about restorative justice, peace circles and the use of volunteers in the process of reintegration of offenders into the community. MAV were thanked for the valuable contribution we made to the seminar.

MAV Juile Boyle said;  One of the most exciting things that happened was that we were introduced to two ladies who wanted to set up Mothers Against Violence in Denmark!  We were also treated to a very powerful performance by the Prison Choir from Vridsløselille State Prison which has been singing for 15 years behind bars.