We’re launching our first Zine!

In May last year, members of our women’s group support programme welcomed the Mockingjays from RASASH (Rape and Sexual Assault Service Highlands) for a zine workshop. The Mockingjays are a group of survivors of sexual violence who lead creative activism workshops. Across a couple of sessions, group attendees created a zine sharing their experiences of healing and coping with sexual violence and also fighting against rape culture and patriarchy. Participants were given a pile of magazines, some stickers and some scissors & glue and were given free space to express themselves.

TRIGGER WARNING: Due to the nature of sexual violence, the Zine may be quite triggering. It’s important to look after yourself and give yourself space to acknowledge difficult emotions.

The group facilitators described the sessions as collaborative and that the activity invited some really powerful conversations. There was a really strong community feel and it gave the survivors attending the sessions space for connection. Although each of their individual experiences may be really different, there was a shared understanding and they came together and stood in solidarity with one another to create the zine.

“It felt really powerful the act of cutting up magazines, which can often relay outdated, disempowering stereotypes of what a woman should be and do, and reclaiming that in a healing and empowering way and survivors rewriting the narrative.” - Quote from workshop facilitator

We featured on Keith Community Radio this month!

This month we were invited to record a feature for Keith Community Radio :)

The feature aired on Monday 16th December at 6pm and was repeated the following day at 10am.

Don’t worry if you missed it!

You can listen to a recording on Mixcloud.

In the feature we discussed Moray’s first ever Reclaim the Night night, which happened on the 25th of November to mark the start of 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence (GBV). We discussed its importance in the area and shared some statistics and testimonies from people in Moray. 

Human Rights Day 2024

Today is the United Nations Human Rights Day. It takes place on the 10th December every year and marks the end of 16 Days of Activism to End Gender Based Violence, a global campaign calling for an end to all forms of gender based violence. 

The theme for this year’s Human Rights Day is “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” and it is a powerful statement that can empower people to stand up for human rights and recognise the power they have in making a change.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (Oct 17)

Today (Thursday October 17th) is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. It’s a day to raise awareness, eliminate shame and stigma, and signpost to support.

Poverty is “when a person’s resources are not sufficient to meet their minimum needs to participate in society” (Joseph Rowntree Foundation). This can mean a lack of physical or financial resources, including clothing, food, housing, and fuel or employment, benefits, and pension. It can also mean a lack of opportunity for participation in society, including missing out on social activities or a lack of a social network to help with childcare or household tasks.

Moray ranks 14th out of 32 council areas in Scotland (1st is the highest rates) for poverty levels. This is in part due to a lower average wage in the area than the Scottish average, meaning Moray is less resilient to the rising cost of living. Nearly a quarter of Moray’s children live in poverty. (Moray Council)

Poverty in Moray is often hidden, particularly due to the rural nature of the area. The Cost of Living crisis (increasing cost of food, fuel, and energy), lack of (accesible and affordable) resources in rural areas, and limited access to employment and higher wages means it’s harder to earn income, and harder to buy essentials (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation).