b'Soroptimist InternationalReport for the High-Level Political Forum COVID-19 Work of Tomorrows Women Wirral: UK SI Heswall and DistrictProvidingjoined-upgender-responsivechronicunderfundingandinsteadofbeingfully programmes within the justice system, like thatfundedbythestateandrecognisedasastate providedbyTomorrowsWomenWirral,service,theyrelyonthesupportofcommunity contributedtoSDG3ongoodhealthandmembers,volunteersandpartnersforresources wellbeing, SDG4 on education, SDG5 on genderand to maintain the services provided.equality,SDG10onreducinginequalities, SDG16 on peace, justice and strong institutionsRecognisingtheimportanceofcommunity andSDG17onpartnershipsforsustainablealternativestoprison,in2010Soroptimistand development. MagistrateMaureenThompsonwasaskedto establish a Womens Centre as a direct alternative TomorrowsWomenWirralisasafe,non- to Custody by the Court and Probation service. This judgementalenvironmentandmeaningfulwas a huge challenge, as despite asking for these community-basedalternativetoprison.Itisservicesandacknowledgingtheirnecessity,no committedtoreducingoffendinganddivertingfundsorpremiseswereallocated.Instead, womenfromcustodybyprovidingsupportandresponsibilitytoprovidetheseessentialstate interventionssotheycanmakealterativeandservicesandsocialprotectionfloorsfelltocivil positive lifestyle choices, and changesthis is vitalsociety. Maureen turned to her Soroptimist club for as prison is known to perpetuate and compound thesupporttogettheseservicesrunningandthe inequalitiesthatfrequently driveoffendingrates,Centre was first able to open its doors in 2011.Since such as poverty, lack of economic opportunity, andthen, SI Heswall, SI Birkenhead and Wallasey and a lack of access to education. In the UK there areothershavecontinuedtosupportTomorrows veryfewwomensprisons,whichmeanswomenWomen Wirral. Without being able to secure the facingprisonmaybeincarceratedlongdistancesfundsandpremiseswiththesupportofother awayfromtheirfamiliesandsupportnetworks.Soroptimists, it would not have been possible for Community-basedalternativesthereforebecomeTomorrows Women Wirral to maintain its contract essential and provide much more effective forms ofwith the Ministry of Justice, ensuring women are rehabilitation. These services became all the moreable to stay in employment and out of prison. Now, essentialduringthepandemicasitpreventedin response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a different womenfrombeingremovedfromtheirapproach had to be taken. communitiesandbeingplacedinprisonenvironments where inmates are at increased riskDuetoCOVID-19theCentrehad toclosetothe ofcontractingCOVID.Despitethevitalsocialpublic,butalsohad tofind a sustainablewayto protectionfloorsandservicesorganisationslikecontinue providing services to the women it works TomorrowsWomensWirralprovide,theyfacewith, including the statutory scheduled 12'