Six learnings from Chayn on supporting survivors of abuse with mental health during Covid19 lockdown — Written by Hera Hussain, Zoë Firth and Alyson Kissner One in four women in the UK experiences domestic abuse. Since lockdown, calls to a National Domestic Abuse helpline jumped by half, while searches on Google for “domestic abuse UK” have increased by 250% in the UK. …

Creating trauma-informed governance and operations — Hi, I’m Kim! I am so excited to be Chayn’s new Operations Manager. I’ve been looking for a role which would allow me to use my skills and experience in the charity sector to fight against the toxicity of the patriarchy, and here it is! Gender-based violence is a cause…

By Chayn and End Cyber Abuse — As technology-enabled gender-based violence (TGBV) rises globally, it is crucial to develop responses that take an intersectional, survivor-centric approach. Yet, there are key gaps across policy, technology and research that result in a failure to meet survivors’ needs, and often cause further exploitation. Survivors often describe how systems of justice retraumatize…

Written by Flora Butler and Sophie Steyn This post is a review of a report published by Privacy International (PI) in April 2020. The report examines how personal data is being collected and exploited, in order to interfere with women’s sexual and reproductive choices. While technology can serve as a…

“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” — Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire “[…] I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to…

A letter of solidarity from Chayn’s Tiffany. — Dear Survivor, This year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) has encapsulated many new variables. We’re collectively navigating the crucial need for social isolation. During the month of April, for many survivors, being among allies and peers is what gives us the space we need to feel heard, seen (if we…

Can mental health apps replace in-person therapy? Short answer: no. From the pastel hues and celebrity endorsements of the Headspace app to new apps to support mental health challenges, there’s a growing field of health technology applications. …

If you’re sitting in a room with four people, the chances are one of them is going through a mental health crisis. In the UK, nearly 40% of women with severe mental health issues are victims and survivors of sexual violence. This increases when you also add in ethnicity, class…

Here’s a report back from Cycle 17. We began this cycle (a four month sprint with a new team) with a super tight-knit group, unlike our usual volunteer groups where we have at least 40 people. This time, we were less than 30. …