This year we have chosen to walk the Kiltwalk from Glasgow to Balloch, to raise funds for a local charity in Ayrshire. The Star Centre offers specialist trauma informed support and advocacy services to survivors of sexual violence, abuse, and sexual exploitation across East, North, and South Ayrshire, Arran and Cumbrae.

They also work with local schools, colleges, universities and youth groups and local agencies educating about gender based and sexual violence.

Violence against women and girls has been recognised as a public health crisis in Scotland and has detrimental consequences on health and well being. Attitudes towards gender based and sexual violence in Scotland are worrying, with failures in education leading to harmful misconceptions, preventing people from accessing the support they need. Meanwhile, world wide figures estimate that one third of women will experience physical or sexual violence with an intimate partner.

The STAR centre provides critical support to individuals and to our community. It is ever important to collectively platform and amplify organisations like this one, since positive, supportive community spaces can help us work towards societal change on a bigger scale. We can help break down barriers for support, prevent violence against women and girls and work towards a safer, equal and fairer Scotland. 🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿(sources: WHO, Public Health Scotland, YouGov)

Any and all donations would be hugely appreciated. Lots of love and kindness :)

Eva, Molly and Cerys 🩵