Personal Alarms For Homeless Women
A graphic design student is fundraising to provide personal alarms for homeless women in Plymouth.
Fiona Melville is using her graphic design skills to raise awareness of the issue of violence and sexual violence against homeless women. She did this in response to the increase in homelessness across the UK, and what she perceives as the vulnerability to assault of women without secure housing.
With a campaign titled Woman to Woman, Fiona is collaborating with Shekinah, a Devon and Cornwall based charity that provides opportunities for people in recovery or seeking recovery, including recovery from homelessness, and with The Zone, a Plymouth-based charity that provides free and confidential information and support to young people.
The Woman to Woman campaign mission statement says: ‘Our vision is to create a safe environment for homeless women on the streets of Plymouth by raising awareness and funds for the purchase of personal protection panic alarms. We want to bring an end to all forms of violence against women on the streets. We will do this by creating a safe environment, in a dignified approach, bringing the homeless woman community together.’
Fiona said: “I grew up near High Wycombe in north-west London, so I’ve always had an awareness of homelessness and the heightened risks that it presents for women. During my degree at Plymouth College of Art I knew that I wanted to use my skills to make a difference in the world, and after volunteering in the kitchens at Shekinah and speaking to some of the women accessing the services there, that crystallised my plans for Woman to Woman.”
“It was such a humbling experience and a reality check to speak to women about the things that they have to deal with on a daily basis, in contrast with my own life. This led me to discuss my plans with Shekinah and The Zone, building a fundraiser to provide homeless women in the area with personal panic protection alarms.”
“The Woman to Woman campaign will be live until the end of our Degree Shows and I really hope that people will consider donating. A personal alarm can help provide a woman with the reassurance to sleep at night, because they make it easier to raise the alarm and call for assistance if they are in immediate danger.”
