b'Soroptimist InternationalReport for the High-Level Political Forum appointment for women in the probation system.club meant that incidents of domestic and intimate Before COVID-19, around 650 women would attendpartner violence and poor mental health were more theCentreeach week,soSI Heswall andDistricteasily detected and responded to appropriately. In kicked into action to support the outreach serviceturn, this meant that women who needed it were thatwasquicklydesignedtoensuretheable to visit the Centre for safeguarding support in continuation of help to vulnerable women. Throughaccordance with COVID-19 regulations.the Femail Delivery Service members of SI Heswall andDistrictensuredwomenreceivedessential hygiene products, food parcels and other goods to supportwellbeingandmentalhealth. Simultaneously, they ensured vulnerable women in society who often experience isolation were able to maintaincontactwithothermembersoftheir community while respecting social distancing. In addition, the Femail Delivery Service distributed 437 mobile phones to women who previously would visit the centre for support and advice, making sureFrequently,community-basedservices,like theycouldstillaccessone-on-onesupportandTomorrowsWomenWirral,workwithwomen courses key to their rehabilitation, including coursesfacingcross-cuttingbarrierstoequalityand on angermanagement,parenting,budgetingandempowerment including social isolation, a lack of other life skills key to preventing and overcomingeducation,mentalhealthchallengesandgender-inequalities that are being exacerbated by COVID- based violence. All the evidence demonstrates that 19. By distributing the mobile phones, SI Heswallfor those already facing discrimination pre-COVID, and its volunteers were able to adjust their free Newthepandemichassettheirprogresstowards BeginningsCounsellingServicetobeaphone- equalityandempowermentbackwards.For service to maintain their Tomorrows Women Wirralprogress to happen its essential that services like clients. This counselling service was first establishedTomorrowsWomenWirralarefullyfundedand tocaterforthewomenwhocameto thecentremeaningfully equipped to minimise risks of equality havingexperiencedtraumaandforthosewithregression, and to provide social protection floors vulnerabilitieswith counselling often expensivewhichgovernmentshavecommittedto. to access, this service ensured those women whoTomorrows Women Wirral fills a gap in Womens neededitcouldreceivecounselling,withServices, including by working with sex workers in Soroptimistsbeingamongsomeofthequalifiedthenight-timeeconomyandover7500women counsellors providing the services.have already benefited from the Centre. COVID-19 and its impacts cannot be allowed to prevent this Mobilising other SI clubs, such as SI Birkenhead andworkfromcontinuing.Duetothelong-term SIWallasey,SIHeswallandDistrictwasabletorelationshipbetweenSIHeswallandDistrictand secure emergency COVID funding for TomorrowsTomorrowsWomenWirraltheywereableto WomenWirral.Theresultingoutcomesofthiscollaborate to respond to the extraordinary crisis to funding and the in-kind support provided by the ensure women who rely on these services were not left behind. 13'