Platform 51's head office moves to Botley, Oxford

We are excited to announce the move of Platform 51's Oxford Head Office from Cornmarket Street to the Botley Road. Platform 51's new registered address will be: New Barclay House, 234 Botley Road, Botley, OX2 0HP.

With lower rent costs and more meeting space, this move will allow us to become more cost-efficient and create an environment that is better fitted to our purpose. We can therefore ensure that all our available funds are being directed towards the girls and women who use our services, at a time when we know that women are facing increased hardship.

We look forward to welcoming you to the new offices in the near future. 

We are looking for volunteers to join our Board of Trustees

Platform 51 is looking for volunteers to join our Board of Trustees.  In particular, we seek people who have financial, technological and marketing skills to offer.  Our Board of Trustees meet four times a year to lead and plan the strategic direction and objectives of the charity and to ensure its financial and operational sustainability.

If you believe you have the necessary skills and commitment to help us achieve our aims, please send an initial expression of interest to jobs@platform51.org More information to follow.

Platform 51 is concerned that women may be feeling significantly more vulnerable and isolated following the recent riots and disturbances.  We would like to reassure all women and girls, particularly those in the areas most affected by the riots - London, Wolverhampton, Bristol, Knowsley [our nearest centre to south Liverpool where riots broke out - that all our Platform 51 centres remain open and ready to welcome you.

Platform 51 provides a platform for all women and girls to have a voice.  If you have an opinion you would like to share with us about the recent riots, please email us on communications@ platform51.org. Alternatively, tweet us at @platform51 or share your thoughts with us on our facebook page.

Please call the respective Platform 51 centres in the riot-affected areas to double check opening times:

London West    0208 574 5116

Bilston                01902 357070

Bristol                01179 638775

Knowsley          0151 5477800

Warstones        01902 341822

One woman's dreams come true

Five years ago, Natasha Watkins fell through the doors at Platform 51 Doncaster, drunk and just out of prison after 20 previous custodial sentences. In July 2011 her dreams came true when Belinda Grashion offered her a job as an Office Administrator.

Belinda Grashion first came across Platform 51 in June when she attended a networking event in Doncaster for women-led businesses co-sponsored by Platform 51 in association with Icon Women, a social enterprise supporting women in business. Introduced to Natasha after the event, Belinda immediately appreciated the strong potential that Platform 51 saw in Natasha.

Belgray Properties Director, Belinda Grashion, commenting on why she had chosen to recruit Natasha, said: "Firstly I was impressed and moved by her story and her determination to carry on regardless. Her spirit shone through and she had a "will do" attitude; something that is difficult to impart in people. She had many skills that she did not appreciate in herself and I could clearly see these. She had already come a long way and I feel humbled and privileged to be able to offer her a position within our company. I know she will earn the respect and trust within our company and will become a valued member of staff"

As an Office Administrator Natasha will learn how to deal with customers, answer and make appointments, learn conveyancing procedures for house buying, research property prices and market conditions and general accounting.

Natasha's case is a clear example of how the work of Platform 51 can contribute to the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged women and how with appropriate support women can turn their lives around.  It is powerful evidence of how Platform 51's partnership programme with local employers can bring jobs and opportunities for women.

Hear Natasha and Belinda telling the story on BBC Radio Sheffield (skip to one hour 19 minutes of the podcast).

Tragic loss of young lives mourned

Platform 51 would like to extend its sincere condolences to the people and government of Norway after Friday's tragedy in Oslo and Utoya which resulted in the loss of so many young lives.

This loss is particularly saddening to Platform 51, a charity and largest member of YWCA GB, whose mission has the welfare of girls at its very heart.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families of those who have died, and we offer our thoughts and good wishes at this harrowing time to those who survived the atrocities.

We wish Norway, the bereaved families and those who survived much strength and fortitude in the days ahead.

Click here to see the message of condolence sent to the Norwegian YWCA-YMCA by Anna Magnusson, President of the European YWCAs.

Thousands use antidepressants for long periods

New research by Platform 51 reveals the truth behind the use of antidepressant by girls and women in England and Wales.

The research, conducted by Opinium LLP*, shows that a huge number of women use antidepressants for long periods without being reviewed or offered any alternatives to drugs. It shows:

• a third of women have taken antidepressants at some point in their lives
• nearly half (48%) of women currently on antidepressants have been on them for five years or more
• one in four (24%) women currently on antidepressants have been on them for 10 years or more
• one in four (24%) women currently on antidepressants have waited a year or more for a review.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines advise that antidepressants should not be used routinely as the only option offered to people for depression. For moderate or severe depression a combination of medication and high-intensity psychological intervention is recommended. Therefore the number of women who have taken antidepressants and the number who were not offered alternative or additional support poses worrying questions about the appropriateness of prescriptions. The lack of choices means:

The lack of choice means 57% of women who have taken antidepressants weren't offered any alternatives to drugs at time of prescription.

Not only that, many women are hiding the problem. Nearly one in five (18%) women kept it a secret from their family and 10% even kept it a secret from their partner. 

Platform 51's director of policy, campaigns and communications Rebecca Gill, said:

"These shocking figures reveal an escalating crisis in women's use of antidepressants. We know from working with women and girls in our centres that antidepressants have a role to play in treating mental health issues. The problem is that they are too readily prescribed as the first and only remedy, with 57% of women not being offered any alternatives to drugs at time of prescription and 1 in 4 currently on antidepressants having waited a year or more for review.

"Worryingly, our research suggests that there is still a huge stigma attached to mental health problems. With 1 in 5 not telling their families and 1 in 10 keeping it a secret from their partner, it is clear that women fear they will be judged on the state of their mental health.

"Women want more checks to make sure the medication they use is right for them and they want more choices when it comes to what type of treatment they receive. That is why we are calling on the Government to launch an urgent review into the use of antidepressants."

Download our briefing Checks and choices: women and antidepressants

-------------------------------------

*To get a representative picture of the mental health experiences of girls and women, Platform 51 commissioned Opinium Research LLP to carry out a nationally representative, quota-controlled survey of more than 2,000 adults aged 18+ in England and Wales in June 2011. 

Young mums have produced a new baby changing map of Nottingham

Press release

Young women from Platform 51's mums group have produced a new baby feeding and changing map of Nottingham. The group have handpicked the best facilities in the city centre and mapped them with a key to what's available at each place.

The mums decided to create the map after discussing how daunting a trip into Nottingham can be if you don't know where the good facilities are. They wanted to share their knowledge and help others plan their visit to Nottingham without the worry.

Nicola, 21, said: "we designed this map for all parents, carers, grandparents and tourists."

Simone, 21, added: 'being a new mum you aren't always aware where changing rooms are and which facilities are available. I think our map is very useful and informative and also unique as I have never seen anything with this information on before and I think I would have benefitted from this when I first had my baby."

The group have been working on their map for several months. They have surveyed the city centre facilities, worked with a graphic designer to lay out the map and taken part in a photoshoot for images to illustrate the cover.

Copies of the Babies About Town map will be available throughout the city centre and it is also available to download from the Platform 51 website www.platform51.org/downloads/resources/misc/babiesabouttown.pdf

Platform 51 Young Mum's Group meets Thursdays, 1pm to 3pm, at Hyson Green Children's Centre. Mums are welcome to join the group whatever the age of their children and crèche places can be provided on site - please call to book in advance. For more information contact Gill Court, Participation Worker on 07500 55 3800 or come along.

________________ ENDS ________________

Notes to Editors:
Launch event and photo opportunity
Thursday 23^rd June
1:30-2:30
Hyson Green Children's Centre
Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham

Contact Gill Court
07500 55 3800
gill.court@platform51.org

Additional quotes from the group:

Siobhan, 21, said: "we made this flyer because it's something that is really useful for citizens of Nottingham but also tourists as well. The front of the flyer has pictures of young parents and children on it so it also appeals to the younger generations."

Sabrina, 20, said: "I think this map will be useful for mothers who don't know where toilets area is and also for people who don't live in the area of Nottingham."

Kadee, 22, said: "we did this poster for people who haven't been to Nottingham before very useful to all mums and dads."

Helen, 21: "This will be useful for all parents and tourists in Nottingham."

Liz, 21, said: "People know where things are for babies and it helps all generations."

About Platform 51

Platform 51 supports girls and women as they take control of their lives. Girls and women are at the heart of all we do. Our activities, services and campaigns are about things women need and want. We give them a platform to have their say and challenge discrimination.

The choir challenge: set up a new choir and perform in 10 week

Press release

Women's charity Platform 51 has set Nottingham women a challenge, to form a new all female choir and put on a local performance - in just 10 weeks.

Platform 51 set up the project as part of their national mental health campaign, that showed that three out of every five women in England and Wales have been affected by mental health problems of some kind. Singing has proven benefits to health and wellbeing and is accessible to lots of different women.

The choir meets once a week on a Tuesday between 1 and 3 pm at Somerville House on Forest Road West. The group learn and practice songs from across the globe, from Congolese welcome songs to American folk songs. Choir leader, Angela Warren, said about the sessions: "Singing is a great way to let off some steam and have some fun. People often sing at home or in the car along to the radio - but it's a really exciting experience to sing together with other women in a group."

Choir members have said the following about the sessions: "it's a good laugh and is definitely helping me to build my confidence" and "it makes me feel happy".

There are 8 weeks left in the programme, and women are still encouraged to come along and join the choir. You don't need any singing experience and it's completely free to take part. Nottingham City Transport has donated bus tickets for choir members so it costs nothing to get there.

Platform 51's 'Choir Challenge' culminates in a live performance at Nottingham Contemporary Gallery on 22^nd July.

For more information contact Angela on 07981 885013 or ange.warren@ntlworld.com.

_________________ ENDS _________________

Notes to editors

Platform 51's Choir Challenge is funded by Nottingham City Council. It is supported by Framework and Nottingham City Transport.

About Platform 51

Platform 51 supports girls and women as they take control of their lives. Girls and women are at the heart of all we do. Our activities, services and campaigns are about things women need and want. We give them a platform to have their say and challenge discrimination.

Changes will affect the most vulnerable warns 15 organisations.

Press release

Fifteen organisations including Platform 51 have today joined forces and written a letter to the Minister of State for Pensions, Steve Webb MP expressing deep concern about DWP proposals to abolish parts of the Social Fund.

The Social Fund provides an extremely important safety net to many of the most vulnerable people in our society say the Chartered Institute of Housing, Citizens Advice, Community Links, CPAG, Crisis, Family Action, Gingerbread, Homeless Link,  National Housing Federation, Platform 51, RNIB, Shelter, St Mungo's, Toynbee Hall  and the TUC. They warn that proposed changes to abolish Community Care Grants and most aspects of Crisis Loans, and to transfer administration to local authorities from 2013 when Universal Credit is introduced, could result in a drastic and wide scale reduction of vital support to those most in need.

The letter to the Minister highlights the huge scale of need for these payments. While there were 640,000 applications for a Community Care Grant, and 3.65 million applications for a Crisis Loan in 2009/10, evidence given to the Public Accounts Committee last year showed that on average, only 32 per cent of "legitimate demand" for Community Care Grants was met.*

While the letter recognises that there is a need to review how these payments are administered, the charities express deep concern at the lack of analysis by the DWP into the needs and circumstances of the people who rely on Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans, and the lack of details on how the proposals will work. The charities also express concern at the decision to move administration to local authorities at a time when their budgets are being cut.

The charities are asking for the opportunity to meet with the Minister, as well as urging him to provide further evidence and a clear business case to explain and justify the withdrawal of such an essential part of the welfare system, and to explain how the proposals would meet the needs of the most vulnerable to ensure an effective safety net is maintained.

-ends-

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmpubacc/573/573.pdf , page 10

For more information contact:

laura.burnell@citizensadvice.org.uk

Tel: 0207 833 7085

Our out-of-hours contact number: 0845 0990107

Notes to editors:

1.    The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk

2.    The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk 

3.    Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2009 to March 2010, an 18% increase on the previous year. For full 2009/2010 service statistics see: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_20100517.htm

4.    Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy's Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).

5.    Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.

Comedy gig in aid of Platform 51

Platform 51 presents an evening of stand up comedy in celebration of 100 years of International Women's Day. Join us for an evening of great comedy and support Platform 51's vital work to work to help vulnerable girls and women to take control of their lives.

Featuring Isy Suttie (Peep Show), Liz Carr (BBC Ouch! Podcast), Kate Smurthwaite (Soho Comedy Club), Tiffany Stevenson (BBC Stand Up Show) and Kiki Kendrick.

Date: Wednesday 30 March 2011, 8pm

Venue: Soho Comedy Club, The Comedy Pub, 7 Oxendon St, London, SW1Y 4EE

Tickets: £10 from http://www.sohocomedy.com/box_office All proceeds go to Platform 51.

More information, including a list of performers here.

YWCA becomes Platform 51

During the 155 years since we were founded, we've had to evolve to reflect changes in society and the needs and expectations of women.This is true not only of the work we do, but also of our name. Our original name no longer stood for who we are or what we do and people often confused us with another charity. So we have changed our operating name from YWCA England & Wales to Platform 51.

Why 'Platform 51'?

Our new name more accurately represents who we are and what we do: 51% of people are female, and girls and women use us as a platform to have their say and as a place from where they can move into the next stage of their lives.

Make no mistake, what remains the same is our passion to help girls and women as they take control of their lives.

YWCA pop out for lunch with the Queen

It was a day of glamorous hats, tea and cucumber sandwiches for a young woman from YWCA Wolverhampton who attended the Queen's Garden Party yesterday. 

Jude Featherstone, accompanied by YWCA worker Becky Matthews, got the chance to stroll through the famous Garden of Buckingham Palace and to see members of the Royal Family at the party held annually by The Queen.

The Queen is patron of YWCA England & Wales, the charity working with young women from disadvantaged backgrounds. YWCA receives invitations every year for the Queen's Garden Party, which is distributed to its projects around England and Wales.

Jude said: "Even though it was a rainy day I had a great time anyway!"

Wolverhampton Homes hold women in construction event

Wolverhampton Homes has hosted a Women In Construction event day to encourage more women into a trade.

The organisation and its Decent Homes partners - Bullock, Frank Haslam Milan and Thomas Vale - organised taster sessions in painting and decorating, plumbing and carpentry.

Women from YWCA and local schools and colleges attended to try out a trade, talk to other women working in construction and to apply for apprentice opportunities.

Pat McFadden MP was also the guest speaker who gave his support to the day.

Shazad Ahmed, project skills co-ordinator from Wolverhampton Homes, said: "Many women came along to the event which was really successful, it was all about breaking down the stereotypes that construction is only for men.

"I know many people who attended also found it really useful to talk to women already in a trade and get their first hand knowledge and experience."

Rachel Symons, YWCA centre manager, said: "The young women really got involved in the day, getting stuck into tasks they never thought they would be doing and getting an insight into a job sector unfamiliar to most of them. It proves that career advice shouldn't always be steering young women into traditionally 'female' jobs, but should be showing the full spectrum of options available to them."

Low pay commission releases 2009 report

The Low Pay Commission is calling for apprentices to receive a national minimum wage in its 2009 report, published last week. However this will be at a lower rate than for other workers.

They have recommended the Government ask them to look into an appropriate minimum wage rate for apprentices in next year's report. The Government will respond to their recommendations in the summer.

YWCA's Parliamentary officer Helen Berresford said: "If the Government does accept the recommendation it really is great progress and a fantastic step for the More than one rung campaign and us.

The Commission's report also asked for small increases to the current national minimum wage for all workers and for the age at which people receive the adult rate to be lowered from 22-years-old to 21. Both of these recommendations have been accepted. The national minimum wage will rise by 7 pence per hour in October 2009. However the age at which employees receive the adult rate will not change until October 2010.

Helen Berresford said: "We campaigned to get rid of youth rates altogether however, this small change is still a win and welcomed."

James Anthony, UNISON national executive council member said on behalf of national minimum wage campaigners: "Against the backdrop of recession, when we need to be putting more money into the pockets of the low-paid, it is a surprisingly low increase.

"We are pleased that the government has responded positively to the LPC call for the adult rate to start from age 21. However, this small move actually highlights the continuing discrimination by age, preserved in the national minimum wage, which is again exempted from the provisions of the Equality Bill.

"Our message to the government is: we want and need more bold action to raise the level and end the injustices in the national minimum wage. We believe our campaign has played an important role in challenging the proposed zero increase, in winning the change in start of the adult age band, and the proposed inclusion of apprentices. Our campaign continues."

YWCA is part of the campaign to end age discrimination in the national minimum wage.

YWCA launches credit crunch survival guide

Living on a low income, keeping loans under control and financial abuse are just three of the subjects covered by a recession-busting leaflet launched today by YWCA. The guide is aimed at young women and features tips on saving money, low budget shopping and cutting costs.

The charity is concerned that women living on low incomes are currently finding it even more difficult to balance their limited weekly income. It believes they are getting into even greater financial difficulties.

"The women we work with have very limited incomes" says Sarah Payne, Chief Executive YWCA. "Within this leaflet we provide key pieces of financial information which, we hope, will help these women manage their very limited resources better."

"In the current economic climate everyone is worried about money. But young women in some of the poorest communities are particularly vulnerable. They tend to be on low incomes and sometimes lack the skills to manage their limited funds" Sarah continues: "Young mothers and teenage girls, who have had to leave unhappy homes, can find themselves suddenly living independently with little or no support. They find themselves in charge of household bills, with responsibilities that they've never had to think about before. We hope this leaflet will help them and demonstrate that YWCA is here to support them".

Women often do jobs that pay so badly they experience 'in-work poverty'. Nearly two-thirds of low paid workers are women. Sectors with the highest proportions of minimum-wage jobs are female-dominated; for example retail, hospitality, social care, hairdressing and cleaning.

According to the Trade Union Conference (TUC) it is likely that women's jobs will be affected more than in past recessions. More women have been made redundant since the beginning of 2008 than men. [TUC (2009) Women and Recession: How will this recession affect women at work?]

In times when money is scarce women on low incomes are more vulnerable to credit and store card offers, especially if they have young children. Often they do not realise the expensive interest charges they will incur if they do not pay off their account each month.

Linda Jack, Youth Policy Adviser at the Financial Service Authority (FSA) says: "I welcome this excellent and timely initiative from YWCA. The young women they work with are likely to be disproportionally affected by the credit crunch and will need as much support as possible to be able to effectively manage their money. This leaflet, alongside the outstanding support YWCA centres already offer to so many young women, will be a lifeline for those struggling to make ends meet and make the most of their money."

Some women attending YWCA centres have talked about boyfriends, having lost their jobs, taking money from them without asking and not paying them back or using their credit cards without permission - in some cases a form of financial abuse which is putting them in debt. The leaflet therefore looks at this issue and suggests ways to avoid falling into this trap.

You can download the credit crunch survival guide here.

Young women mark ten years of National Minimum Wage

Four young women from YWCA centres had the opportunity to voice their opinions to influential decision makers at two events in Parliament last week.

The introduction of the national minimum wage in 1999 had a profound impact on female workers. It brought the basic wages of those in industries traditionally associated with women, such as retail, hospitality and hairdressing, in line with other industries.

YWCA teamed up with UNISON and the British Youth Council to celebrate the tenth birthday of the national minimum wage and discuss how it can be made more effective.

Kayleigh Devlin and Belinda Moreton from YWCA Northampton (pictured left with Sally Keeble MP) and Sheri Dobbs from YWCA Cwmafan attended the reception and mingled with MPs such as Harriet Harman, Judy Mallaber and Hywel Francis. The young women also enjoyed a short tour of Parliament.

During her speech, Sheri explained how she supported the minimum wage but that it still needed to improve. She spoke about her experiences of working on the much lower level of the youth rate of minimum wage which YWCA believes is discriminatory and unfair.

Sheri was involved in YWCA’s More than one rung campaign and told the audience how she thought apprentices should be paid the equivalent of the minimum wage. Helen Berresford, YWCA’s Parliamentary officer, said: “There were many nods of agreement in the room as she spoke!”

At the same time, Charlotte Lowe of YWCA Cwmafan was speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Children in Wales. Charlotte spoke to a group of Welsh MPs about the different types of discrimination that young women faced.

The meeting was discussing the forthcoming Equality Bill which will exclude young people under 18 from one of the definitions of age discrimination. YWCA believes this is unfair as we know that young women face multiple forms of discrimination.

Charlotte’s direct evidence will form part of our lobbying activity around the Equality Bill and shows once again that our campaigning is built on the real experiences of young women.

Girls should have more to do than get drunk, says chief exec

Boredom leads girls to binge drinking

Eighty per cent of the public, in a recent YouGov and YWCA survey, agreed that girls binge drinking is a problem in England and Wales. However, according to the survey people don't just want criticism and punishment for young women - they want to see girls offered ways to change their behaviour.

Boredom, peer pressure and lack of parental guidance are perceived to be the main reasons for young girls aged between 13 and 18 to binge drink according to the survey. Sixty three per cent of those who responded felt that boredom is a key issue around drinking in young women.

To help tackle binge drinking YWCA England & Wales, therefore, calls on parents and the Government to urgently look at how young people spend their days and evenings and to provide alternatives to binge drinking. About two thirds (65%) of those interviewed suggest that young women should be given alternatives, such as youth clubs and cafes, to reduce binge drinking.

"I think most of us accept that the teenage years are a time for experimentation. Which means it is not unusual for young people to try out alcoholic drinks. There has been plenty of talk about punishing young people but more and more the public are recognising that it is education, and support that is needed, not criminalisation." says Sarah Payne, Chief Executive of YWCA.

"Although many people drink because they enjoy it, we believe that young women especially drink because of low self-esteem, low self-confidence and nothing to do. Young women who feel bad about themselves drink to boost their confidence, to make them fit in socially, to block out traumatic things from their past and to forget worries about their future. In our day to day work we constantly see how improving self esteem and offering them alternative activities can dramatically change the lives of young women for the better. We help them develop their skills, socialise, gain work and qualifications. In this way we tackle the root causes of alcohol problems."

YouGov and YWCA's poll also revealed that the public don't want to criminalise young women. When asked what should be done about young girls drinking in public places, such as on the streets or in parks , only one per cent of those surveyed agreed that the police should move young girls on without offering support that would help them. A fifth (20%) suggested that more education and activities on the issue were necessary and nearly a fifth (18%) suggested that parents should be prosecuted if their child were caught drinking.

"We must not assume that all young people have safe and supportive homes to go to. For those who do not, and unfortunately there are quite a few, parental education on alcohol will be limited. Hanging out and getting drunk may even be preferable or even safer to going home" says Sarah. "Society needs to find ways to reach out and help these young people. If we don't we will be failing them and our future generations."

YWCA believes that the following steps will help reduce this problem:

• Safe, interesting and secure places to go and things to do, especially in the evenings and at weekends;

• High quality education as part of PHSE (Personal Health and Social Education). This should help young people to understand that alcohol can be addictive and alcohol misuse can damage their health and in the case of pregnant women their unborn babies. Discussions should also look at how alcohol abuse can have an impact on friends and family;

• Education should help young women gain an understanding that heavy consumption can often lead them into unsafe situations like dangerous driving, walking home alone at night, unsafe sex, the possibility of unplanned pregnancy or contracting a sexually transmitted infection;

• Education should extend to settings outside the classroom and be available for young people not in mainstream education;

• Local authorities need to make commitments in their Children and Young People's Plans to provide constructive out of hours activities for young women.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2015 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 10- 12 February 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

For more information read our briefings and information sheets on young women and alcohol.

Survey of young women shows disturbing evidence

Disturbing evidence of young women being deprived of money by controlling partners has come to light in a recent survey on money and debt carried out by YWCA England & Wales. The charity fears this could accelerate if the economic crisis deepens.

YWCA wanted to find out how the current crisis was affecting girls and young women emotionally and practically. They was surprised to discover that one third of young women surveyed admitted that their partners had deployed methods such as forcing young women to hand over cash or credit cards, taking benefits or forcing them to sign financial contracts in their name.

Interestingly, despite these admissions, many young women did not want to acknowledge that this was financial abuse, a recognised form of domestic violence, in which someone deprives a partner of enough money to meet basic needs through manipulation and control.

Gabriella was with her partner for nine months and now recognises those patterns:

"My boyfriend constantly asked me for money, which he spent on booze, and I'd have no money for myself. When I told him I didn't have any money left he called me a liar and checked my bank statements. He insulted me until my self-esteem was at rock bottom. I got help from my local YWCA and have built up my confidence since then but I think loads more women out there should be aware that this kind of behaviour counts as abuse and is unacceptable."

YWCA is already running programmes to help young women understand more about money management. It is working closely with charity Refuge, which this week published its own report on financial abuse, to raise awareness about it. It is concerned that, like many forms of abuse, it is largely misunderstood and hidden.

YWCA wants: tackling financial abuse to become part of the National Action Plan on domestic violence; improved financial assistance to women experiencing domestic violence and economic abuse; improved data collection to better reflect the crime itself, by both the police and through the British Crime Survey plus investment in further research; young women and men to receive education on financial abuse as part of their PSHE education on both money and relationships; and professionals such as youth workers, social workers, teachers and doctors to receive training and information so they can identify and support young women at risk of, and experiencing, financial abuse.

YWCA's director of policy said: "What's particularly concerning is that most young women in this kind of situation don't even realise they are being abused. Financial abuse doesn't necessarily involve violence; it is a damaging form of manipulation and control. Our worry is that when a partner feels weakened or diminished at times when money is tight, it could only lead to an escalation of the problem."

For more information read our briefings and information sheets on financial abuse, money and debt.

The new apprenticeship strategy announced by the Government is a huge step forward in providing young people with the path to a decent job. YWCA was pleased to see that many of the things we pointed out to the Government  (as told to us by girls and women) have been considered:

• It has acknowledged how many young women find themselves in poorly-paid apprenticeships and wants to tackle this;
• It has proposed a pilot scheme to help tackle the entrenched problems of gender segregation in certain job sectors;
• In job sectors which have traditionally been dominated by men, YWCA's recommendation is that femal apprentices entering male dominated sectors need support from 'mentors' is reflected.

The strategy also recognises that schoolchildren need information about the different pay rates, working conditions and expectation for different jobs and careers. Once again, this is something we have been calling for.

YWCA welcomes the fact that apprenticeship pay will be looked at in the strategy. However, with many young women still struggling on low apprenticeship wages we are appealing to the Government to set apprenticeship pay at the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage.

The challenge is for this ambitious plan to be fully implemented and YWCA will be following the evolution closely to ensure that it becomes a meaningful option for disadvantaged young women to avoid a lifetime of hardship in poorly paid jobs with no prospects

Sally Copley, director of policy, research and campaigns at YWCA said: "Apprenticeships are clearly an important doorway for young people into a job with future prospects. However there is still an inherent gender injustice that we hope will be genuinely addressed through this plan. The highest paid apprenticeship is in the electro technical field, and is exclusively male. It pays double that of the lowest paid, hairdressing, which is dominated by women. That just cannot be right."

For more information read our briefings and information sheets on jobs and training.