SISTAH SPACE PARTNERS WITH FKA TWIGS FOR TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY

WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS - PHOTOGRAPHY TIMOTHY ELIOT SPURR

In November 2015, Ngozi Fulani founded Sistah Space as a direct response to the lack of support for Black women affected by domestic and sexual abuse in the UK. Tragic events led Fulani to taking matters into her own hands and creating her own space for women of African and Caribbean heritage to seek safety and guidance. Over the past decade, Sistah Space has not only offered life-saving support but has also become a powerful voice for change through impactful campaigns.

To mark their ten year anniversary, they've partnered with artist FKA Twigs who has publicly spoken about her own experience of domestic abuse. We sat down to speak with Djanomi Robinson from Sistah Space to explore both the challenges and the achievements of the last ten years, along with the ongoing fight for a support system that doesn't discriminate.

Rachel Edwards: Tell me a bit about Sistah Space and the story behind its launch ten years ago?

Djanomi Robinson: Sistah Space was founded by Ngozi Fulani in November 2015 in direct response to the systemic failures in supporting Black women affected by domestic and sexual abuse in the UK. 

The urgent need for such a space became tragically clear following the murder of a Black woman and her one-year old daughter, RJ, by the woman’s ex-partner and the child’s father. This devastating event highlighted the racial disparities in how domestic violence services are delivered and accessed. Determined to create change, Ngozi established Sistah Space as a safe, culturally sensitive service specifically designed to support Black women of African and Caribbean heritage. The organisation continues to advocate for policy reform, raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by Black women survivors, and provide life-saving support to those most at risk.

R.E: Looking back on the past decade, what are you most proud of that Sistah Space has accomplished?

DR: We have many ‘proud moments’ in our decade of existence. Looking at the past ten years, Sistah Space has achieved significant milestones in supporting African and Caribbean heritage women affected by domestic and sexual abuse. From winning court cases, custody battles, aiding in the safe rehabilitation of survivors and their children, rehousing women, acquiring the UK’s first refuge of its kind, national campaigns and winning multiple awards we are proud to say there are many victorious moments that really are the highlight of the work that we do.

In spite of the fact that we are a grassroots charity who started with no resources, official team or financial backing to then be able to not only exist ten years later but grow to become a vital lifeline for so many is still something we are incredibly proud of. We are proud to have built a brand that the community trust and feel is a safe space for them which is incredibly rewarding and lets us know we’re doing something right.

RE: Can you please talk us through the launching of the Valerie's Law Campaign.

DR: Following the tragic murder of Valerie Forde and her daughter in 2014, Sistah Space launched Valerie’s Law to advocate for mandatory cultural competency training for police and government agencies. The campaign garnered over 106,000 signatures and was debated in Parliament in March 2022. It received widespread support from public figures and media outlets, including FKA Twigs, Michaela Coel, and Jorja Smith. The campaign also featured on ITV’s Tonight programme, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive support for Black survivors of domestic abuse.   Opening of the Sistah Space Charity Shop In July 2021, Sistah Space launched a unique charity shop in Dalston, Hackney, offering brand- new items tailored to the needs of Black women fleeing domestic abuse. The shop provides

emergency bags containing culturally appropriate products, such as hair and skincare items, and features monthly cultural exhibitions. Support for the shop came from brands like Nike, Patta, and artists such as FKA Twigs who is our brand ambassador.  Crowdfunding for a Specialist Refuge In December 2022, Sistah Space raised £42,378 through crowdfunding towards the purchase a refuge/respite for women of Black African and Caribbean heritage affected by domestic abuse. The refuge aims to provide a safe space for survivors, including those with children, offering emergency accommodation and culturally appropriate support

RE: What research and training initiatives do you have access to?

DR: With funding from Black Lives Matter UK, Sistah Space conducted research into the experiences of Black women facing domestic abuse and developed training programs to raise awareness of cultural sensitivities among service providers. These initiatives aim to improve the support available to Black survivors across the UK.  

RE: Can you talk us through the recognition and awards you have received?

DR: Sistah Space has received several accolades for its impactful work, including: The Mayor’s Civic Award from the London Borough of Hackney in 2018. The Money4You Integrity Award in 2022. The Adiaha Antigha Community Achievement Award in 2022. The Outdoor Media Awards Community Social Impact Bronze Award in 2023.  Most recently Sistah Space were awarded the Force For Change by Vogue Magazine in December 2024

We also were invited by a community-based organisation, supported by Anthony Joshua in recognition of our advocacy for positive change.  These achievements underscore Sistah Space’s commitment to providing culturally

competent support and advocating for systemic change to protect Black women and girls from domestic abuse

RE: What challenges have remained consistent over the past ten years, and what’s changed?

DR: Over the past decade, Sistah Space has worked tirelessly to support women of African and Caribbean heritage affected by domestic and sexual abuse, yet one of its most enduring challenges remains a lack of recognition, financial and equitable support. While the organisation has earned the trust of survivors often overlooked by mainstream services and built a vital bridge between vulnerable communities and statutory agencies, it continues to face systemic barriers to inclusion. Despite consistent praise for its culturally competent approach and demonstrable impact, Sistah Space is still fighting for a seat at the table when it comes to shaping policy, accessing sustainable funding, and being treated as an equal alongside more established counterparts. The paradox is stark: while the organisation delivers life-saving services, it must simultaneously battle for visibility, credibility, and resources. This ongoing struggle not only undermines the value of Black-women-led specialist services but also limits their potential to reach even more women in need.

RE: What do you think the biggest challenge is to tackling domestic abuse?

DR: Domestic abuse remains a widespread and deeply entrenched issue, yet discussions around violence against women often remain shrouded in discomfort or silence, despite rising statistics. In my experience, one of the greatest barriers to effectively addressing domestic abuse lies within the very systems meant to support survivors. The response is frequently fragmented and inconsistent, leaving victims vulnerable to further harm. Too often, those seeking help are re-traumatised by undertrained professionals, bureaucratic hurdles, and outdated structures that fail to provide the compassion, understanding, and urgency their situations require.

RE: How did the partnership with FKA Twigs come about?

DR: Our relationship with FKA Twigs happened after we noticed that she had posted a very nice tweet on (then) Twitter, recommending two domestic abuse charities, Sistah Space was one of them. We only noticed when our numbers literally started to rise significantly as we were watching. She accepted our invitation to visit us at our London office and was extremely warm and friendly. We were able to express to her the work that we do on a deeper level and discuss some of the issues that we were facing, to which she was incredibly supportive. Twigs had become very much a part of the Sistah Space family and eventually it became apparent that it just made sense as someone who really understood our mission and had constantly supported behind the scenes to step in to the role of ambassador.

RE: What do you want audiences to take away from the campaign film?

DR: We want the audience to take a few things away from the film. Like any other creative, there is an element that should be left to interpretation, that is what makes the film so important, people can take from it the essence of what we are saying but construe it in a way that they can fully absorb. Essentially, we hope that the film provokes a unique experience in every viewer formed from what they are watching and their own personal experiences. 

Our goal when creating the film was to showcase both the highs and lows of the journey that we have experienced in the 10 years thus far. It was useful to Sistah Space as a charity, to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and also the obstacles faced. We also wanted viewers to get a glimpse of the very real experience of many Black women. An experience of being unincluded or misrepresented and how devastating that realisation can be when you are already enduring so much as a victim of abuse. We wanted to hone in on the fact that even in spaces of refuge and help there are further traumas and risks faced by black woman as a result of being missing in data, policies and narratives within the violence against women and girls sector.

RE: Statistics like 62% of femicide victims are Black women are devastating. Why do you think these realities remain overlooked in public discourse and policymaking?

DR: In all honesty, I think these realities remain overlooked in policymaking because of institutional racism. From my experience both professional and personal, Black people are generally not seen as priority in spaces of consideration. With harmful stereotypes like ’The strong Black woman’ and ‘The aggressive Black man; often times in society there is an attitude of normalcy around black suffering. Whether it be in domestic abuse, femicide, healthcare or policing; the disproportionate experiences of Black people are not taken as serious as their white counterparts even with statistics as shocking as these because conscious and unconscious biases that result in Black people not being permitted to be seen as victims but often assumed to be the perpetrator regardless of the circumstances.  Many government leaders have acknowledged the drastic statistics and pledge to do something about it but once you look into, Black groups like ours are still being ignored and completely un- included when it comes to decision making and the sharing of resources. 

RE: What does the “next chapter” look like for Sistah Space? What are your goals for the next 10 years?

DR: The ‘Next Chapter’ is a very exciting time for us at Sistah Space! Approaching this anniversary has really allowed us time to reflect. This includes looking at what has worked well, what needs changing and how many women and children we have been able to support. We have developed plans to expand, supporting even more women and adding to our service to encompass other areas of support for Black women that are lacking from mainstream. Our goals include hiring more staff. With a larger team we will be able cope with increasing demands. Our most exciting goal is opening our refuge. We worked incredibly hard over the last few years after realising that this was yet another service we could not rely on mainstream for support in. We were able to fundraise and acquire our very own refuge which is the first of its kind. Our goal is to have the refuge staffed, fully up and running so that we can support women

even further. Lastly a goal of ours is to continue raising awareness and our work in advocacy through our training Valerie’s Law. We want to ensure this training is made mandatory so that women across the nation can access safe, culturally considered support no matter what service they go to.

RE: What would a truly safe and supportive UK for Black women look like, in your view?

DR: A truly safe and supportive UK for Black women looks like services where the needs of Black women are not only acknowledged but fully considered. The UK mainstream agencies see significantly lower statistics for Black women in abuse, femicide and in healthcare where avoidable risks mean Black women are more likely to suffer, then any other demographic. A supportive and appropriate Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector, meaning ‘for us by us’ specialist organisations for Black women fully comprehend the need for Black women to be supported in making decisions for themselves. This means giving Black women the opportunity and resources to be able to speak for themselves abut their needs. The importance of allocating resources ring fenced for Black women, to Black women as opposed to being lumped under another category (BAME) for those from different demographics to manage and

make decisions on our behalf is very problematic. A ‘safe UK’ for Black women is one where stereotypes are eliminated and Black women are awarded individualism and the opportunity to be judged on their own merit as opposed to preconceived mostly harmful notions.  A truly safe and supportive UK for Black women is one where Black women are seen and heard.