Last week, three prominent groups of campaigners received awards at the annual Emma Humphries Memorial Prize ceremony.
Sabrina Qureshi
Sabrina Qureshi, treasurer of
Women and Girls Network and one of the driving forces behind this year's
Million Women Rise march, won the individual award for her work in co-ordinating in the march. The prize judges were particularly interested in the international aspect of her work, as they are planning to launch an international prize in next year's awards, and with the way she facilitated the involvement of a wide range of women in the prominent march on International Women's Day.
Women Asylum Seekers Together
Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) won the group award. The judges were impressed with how much they had achieved with so few resources. They were also impressed with the breadth of the work they had been doing. WAST have been raising awareness of the issues facing women asylum seekers by making a film, writing a book and running workshops for professionals working with asylum seekers. They also run a self-help group and campaign to change social policy.
Femi Otitoju, one of the judges, said she had been "impressed with the diversity of the women who had come together through WAST". She felt that it underlined the fact that women working together - however different - can make a huge difference to each other's lives.
Southall Black Sisters
Southall Black Sisters received a special award for their sterling work in challenging Ealing Council's decision to cut their funding. In the view of the EHMP judges, their successful challenge will have a major impact on other organisations providing specialist and specific services.
Congratulations to Sabrina, Women Asylum Seekers Together and Southall Black Sisters - and all the women and groups who received nominations.