Platform 51

What we care about

Women in today’s society face extreme pressure: many are abused or isolated, others wrestle with poverty, discrimination, sexism, sexual violence or racism.

Many struggle to get the education they need. To cope, women may turn to drug or alcohol abuse, self-harm or suffer from eating disorders. Most women we work with lack confidence. Some come to us in crisis, while others just need to be treated like a human being.

A voice for women

At Platform 51 we speak up for women and give them a chance to have their say about all sorts of things. We do all we can to work on behalf of every girl or woman whether or not she comes to one of our centres.

Our research and face-to-face work with women tells us what we should be campaigning about. We lobby for changes in the law and new policies to help all women.

Our main themes are :

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Crime and violence

Many women become trapped in a cycle of crime and offending, making them vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation. Girls are at greatest risk of experiencing violence and abuse yet there is limited support for under-18s in abusive relationships.

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Education, skills, jobs and work

Girls need better careers advice and training opportunities. Our More than one rung campaign helps women work their way off the bottom rung of the career ladder. Girls who are not in education, employment or training (so-called 'NEET') need encouragement, information and advice.

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Health and wellbeing

Alcohol abuse, bad diets, poor sex education and sexual health are huge problems for thousands of girls and women.

We work to challenge the discrimination and social exclusion faced by young mums. Check out our young mums campaign website. This was a campiagn we ran in 2004.

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Money and debt

Money and debt is always a problem for women. And the recession hits women harder than anyone. We advise women about budgeting, money management and how to get out and stay out of debt.

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