Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre has been awarded a grant from the government, which will enable it to employ its first paid staff. Read more.

A number of women's organisations have been awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service this year. The prestigious national honour, which is equivalent to the MBE, recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.

Winners this year include:

• Women's Health in South Tyneside
• The Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre, Darlington and County Durham
• the Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre in Cornwall
• the Sahil Project supporting Asian women in Coventry and the
  
• Wild Young Parents Project improving the skills and self-esteem of young mothers and their children in Cornwall.
  

Well done to all of you! It's great to see women's organisations getting public recognition for their valuable work.