Sistah Space is a London-based domestic violence charity[1] that provides specialist services to women of African and Caribbean heritage.[2]
 | |
| Formation | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Ngozi Fulani |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | Domestic violence support |
| Headquarters | Hackney, London, UK |
| Website | www |
History edit
Sistah Space was founded by Ngozi Fulani in 2015, following the 2014 murder of Valerie Forde and her daughter.[2][3][4] Sistah Space is "community-based nonprofit initiative created to bridge the gap in domestic abuse services for African heritage women and girls"[5] Sistah Space operated out of a retail location on Lower Clapton, switching to accommodation on Mare Street, Hackney provided by Hackney Council in December 2019.[2][1]
In 2020, the organisation complained about tweets sent by Philip Glanville.[1] In the same year, the organisation entered into a dispute with Hackney Council over premises in Clapton supplied under a voluntary sector lease, which it claimed to be unsafe.[6] Sistah Space subsequently changed locations.[6] The following year, the organisation suggested sensitivity training for police to help them better support black women who have experienced domestic violence.[7] In August 2022, they were denied permission to have their own float at the Hackney Carnival.[8]
The charity attracted attention in November 2022 when its founder, Fulani, alleged that she had been subject to racist questioning by Lady Susan Hussey, a royal staff member, at a Buckingham Palace function.[9][10]
In December 2022, the charity stopped much of its work and made a statement on Instagram that online abuse and safety concerns drove the decision.[11] The same month, reporting stated that the Charity Commission and the London Assembly were making preliminary investigations into the running of Sistah Space, following a series of more than 200 posts by an anonymous Twitter user questioning the charity's finances and organisation.[12][13]
References edit
- ^ a b c Sheridan, Ed (23 August 2020). "Domestic abuse charity lodges formal complaint against Hackney mayor amid premises dispute". Hackney Gazette. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Walawalker, Aaron (11 July 2020). "Hackney domestic violence charity faces battle to stay in premises". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ "Machete double killer victims Valerie Forde and daughter let down by Met Police". BBC News. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ Furness, Hannah (2 December 2022). "Ngozi Fulani: The activist proud of her African roots who found herself at the centre of a royal race storm". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ Fulani, Ngozi (10 April 2022). "Sistah Space (Sanctuary) Annual Return 2021". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ a b "An update from Hackney Council and Sistah Space". Hackney Council Website. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Police urged to better protect black women who face domestic abuse". The Guardian. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ Oluwalana, Ayokunle (8 August 2022). "'Unfair rule means we as Black women can't have float at our own carnival'". MyLondon. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "Prince William's godmother Lady Susan Hussey resigns from palace duties after asking black visitor 'where she came from'". Sky News. 1 December 2022.
- ^ "Lady Susan Hussey quits over remarks to charity boss Ngozi Fulani". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Ngozi Fulani's charity Sistah Space stops work over safety". BBC News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
- ^ Leather, Jack; Mendick, Robert (13 December 2022). "Palace race row accuser Ngozi Fulani's charity draws watchdog's attention after allegations". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Ellery, Ben (14 December 2022). "Charity in royal race row facing donations inquiry". The Times. Retrieved 14 December 2022.