The National Lottery Community Fund has granted Savera UK £419,615 over four years to develop a training and education project that will inform thousands of people about ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.

The project “A world without HBA & harmful practices” aims to reach, teach and engage as many people as possible across Merseyside, Cheshire and beyond about HBA and harmful practices. This includes the general public, those in professional agencies and also communities.

It aims to equip them with the information and tools needed to better recognise and respond to survivors or those at risk of HBA and harmful practices, while also improving outcomes for survivors and those at risk.

A Training and Education Manager will be recruited to lead the four-year project and a dedicated Youth and Education Officer, will engage with schools and other educational establishments to reach a wide range of young people. This intends not just to inform them about HBA and harmful practices, but to also recruit them to the Savera UK Youth programme and the Youth Advisory Board, to help them deliver campaigns and peer-to-peer education within the project.

Afrah Qassim, CEO and founder of Savera UK, said: “We are so excited to receive this funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and grateful for its support. This project has been an ambition for Savera UK for a very long time, so to finally be able to bring it to life is incredible.

“We want people to learn and understand more about HBA and harmful practices, so they are better equipped to recognise and challenge them, and to provide a better response for those at risk. This funding will give us the resource and capacity to properly meet this demand and educate people so we can move closer to a world without these issues.”