Imkaan is a UK-based umbrella organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls. Rather than providing front-line refuge itself, Imkaan supports and strengthens a network of specialist services, including those run by and for women of African, Asian, Caribbean, and other diverse heritages. Recognising that mainstream domestic-violence services don’t always cater effectively to cultural nuances or language barriers, Imkaan offers capacity-building, training, and policy advocacy to ensure these smaller, community-led charities thrive.
In the wide world of family law and separation, Imkaan’s members regularly assist survivors navigating divorce or child arrangements, especially crucial if the survivor fears “honour-based” reprisals or has an insecure immigration status. Imkaan’s policy work challenges statutory agencies (courts, CAFCASS, local authorities) to adopt culturally informed risk assessments, ensuring survivors from marginalised backgrounds aren’t overlooked or stereotyped. Their training programmes equip front-line workers to spot forced marriage, financial exploitation, or multiple-perpetrator abuse. In turn, survivors receive more sensitive advice—such as how to access Non-Molestation Orders discreetly, or how to handle child contact if extended family members pose a threat.
Key Services
- Advocacy & Capacity-Building: Supports local BME-led DV organisations with funding advice, governance, and strategic planning.
- Research & Policy: Publishes reports highlighting gaps in law and practice for Black/minoritised survivors.
- Training & Consultancy: Works with refuges, solicitors, and police to deliver culturally specific responses.
- Campaigns: Lobbies government bodies to consider minoritised women’s experiences in legislative reforms and family-court protocols.
Why It’s Valuable
Many small, grassroots charities championing BME women face funding struggles and systemic hurdles. By uniting them under the Imkaan umbrella, these services gain a collective voice to influence policy and share resources. For survivors, this network means local advocates who “get” their cultural context—reducing stigma, bridging language gaps, and tackling generational or religious pressures that can complicate leaving an abusive partner. In family-law scenarios, an Imkaan-affiliated organisation can help survivors feel more confident about approaching courts or solicitors, knowing cultural subtleties won’t be dismissed. Ultimately, Imkaan’s role in promoting specialised, intersectional support is indispensable in creating a truly inclusive domestic-violence sector.
Website: https://imkaan.org.uk/
Registered Charity Number: 1106865