Sistah Space

Sistah Space

Formation	2015
Founder	Ngozi Fulani
Legal status	Charity
Purpose	Domestic violence support
Headquarters	Hackney, London, UK
Website	www.sistahspace.org

Sistah Space is a London-based domestic violence charity[1] that provides specialist services to women of African and Caribbean heritage.[2]

History

Sistah Space was founded by Ngozi Fulani in 2015, following the 2014 murder of Valerie Forde and her daughter.[2][3][4] Sistah Space is "community-based nonprofit initiative created to bridge the gap in domestic abuse services for African heritage women and girls"[5] Sistah Space operated from a retail location in Lower Clapton, switching to accommodation on Mare Street, Hackney provided by Hackney Council in December 2019.[2][1]

In 2020, the organisation complained about tweets sent by Philip Glanville.[1] In the same year, the organisation entered into a dispute with Hackney Council over premises in Clapton supplied under a voluntary sector lease, which it said were unsafe.[6] Sistah Space subsequently changed its location.[6] The following year, the organisation suggested sensitivity training for police to improve their support for black women who have experienced domestic violence.[7] In August 2022, they were denied permission to have a float at the Hackney Carnival.[8]

The charity attracted attention in November 2022 when its founder, Fulani, alleged that she had been subject to racist questioning by Lady Susan Hussey, a royal staff member, at a Buckingham Palace function.[9][10]

In December 2022, the charity stopped much of its work and made a statement on Instagram that online abuse and safety concerns caused the decision.[11] The same month, reports stated that the Charity Commission and the London Assembly were making preliminary investigations into the running of Sistah Space, following a series of more than 200 posts by an anonymous Twitter user questioning the charity's finances and organisation.[12][13]

References

1. Sheridan, Ed (23 August 2020). "Domestic abuse charity lodges formal complaint against Hackney mayor amid premises dispute". Hackney Gazette. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
2. Walawalker, Aaron (11 July 2020). "Hackney domestic violence charity faces battle to stay in premises". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
3. "Machete double killer victims Valerie Forde and daughter let down by Met Police". BBC News. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
4. Furness, Hannah (2 December 2022). "Ngozi Fulani: The activist proud of her African roots who found herself at the centre of a royal race storm". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
5. Fulani, Ngozi (10 April 2022). "Sistah Space (Sanctuary) Annual Return 2021". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
6. "An update from Hackney Council and Sistah Space". Hackney Council Website. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
7. "Police urged to better protect black women who face domestic abuse". The Guardian. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
8. Oluwalana, Ayokunle (8 August 2022). "'Unfair rule means we as Black women can't have float at our own carnival'". MyLondon. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
9. "Prince William's godmother Lady Susan Hussey resigns from palace duties after asking black visitor 'where she came from'". Sky News. 1 December 2022.
10. "Lady Susan Hussey quits over remarks to charity boss Ngozi Fulani". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
11. "Ngozi Fulani's charity Sistah Space stops work over safety". BBC News. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
12. Leather, Jack; Mendick, Robert (13 December 2022). "Palace race row accuser Ngozi Fulani's charity draws watchdog's attention after allegations". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
13. Ellery, Ben (14 December 2022). "Charity in royal race row facing donations inquiry". The Times. Retrieved 14 December 2022.