JK Rowling has introduced she is going to fund a brand new women-only service for victims of sexual violence.
The Harry Potter creator, 57, has based and pays for an Edinburgh-based centre referred to as Beira’s Place.
Ms Rowling, who has beforehand spoken about personal ordeal of sexual and home abuse, made the announcement days earlier than a controversial Gender Invoice hits the Scottish Parliament.
Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Recognition Reform Invoice has come below hearth as a result of it’s feared predatory males will exploit it to pose as females and abuse their rights.
Beira’s Place of Beira’s Place board of administrators Susan Smith, JK Rowling, Johann Lamont, Margaret McCartney and Rhona Hotchkiss
Ms Rowling thinks there’s want for a ladies solely centre providing care throughout a ‘weak time’.
Beira’s Place will supply free one-to-one and group counselling.
Its board of administrators are opponents of the Gender Recognition Reform Invoice.
They embrace Rhona Hotchkiss, a former jail governor, and Dr Margaret McCartney, an educational, broadcaster and Glasgow GP.
The Harry Potter creator, 57, has based and pays for an Edinburgh-based centre referred to as Beira’s Place
The Time reviews Beira’s Place is legally permitted to exclude males below the exemptions of the 2010 Equality Act, which permits single-sex companies if they’re ‘a proportionate means to attain a legit finish’.
It’s named after Beira, the Scottish goddess of winter.
JK Rowling mentioned: ‘Beira guidelines over the darkish a part of the 12 months, handing over to her sister, Bride, when summer time comes once more. Beira represents feminine knowledge, energy, and regeneration. Hers is a energy that endures in the course of the troublesome occasions, however her fable incorporates the promise that they won’t final for ever.’
Beira’s Place’s web site says it has been arrange in response to demand from feminine survivors for a women-only service, as one is at the moment not accessible within the space.
It provides: ‘Beira’s Place is a ladies solely service. It has been arrange by ladies, for ladies.
‘Which means in case you contact us, the primary particular person you converse to might be a girl, any assist you obtain might be from a girl and you’ll be assured that if you go to our centre everybody within the constructing might be ladies.
‘Violence in opposition to ladies and ladies is a matter that crosses all cultures, lessons, and religions. These are gendered crimes which might be overwhelmingly perpetrated by males and disproportionately skilled by ladies. It is for that reason that we’re dedicated to offering a service that’s open to ladies solely. There are a variety of companies in Lothian, and certainly throughout Scotland, that present assist to male survivors of home and sexual abuse. Nevertheless, there are few, if any, which might be strictly ladies solely. The nationwide helplines (home abuse and sexual abuse) are open to feminine and male survivors however there isn’t a ladies solely home abuse or sexual abuse helpline in Scotland.
‘Staff at Beira’s Place and the Board of Administrators all have a protracted historical past of working with ladies. Any lady looking for assist is assured that each one selections concerning the operating of the centre have been made by ladies, together with these with a historical past of delivering direct companies and listening to the voices of ladies.
‘Assist workers have a few years’ expertise working with ladies’s organisations and are available from a background in sexual violence assist, home abuse assist, dependancy assist, supporting ladies and ladies who self-harm, psychological well being assist and supporting ladies abused in prostitution and sexual exploitation.’
