Welcome to the Ashiana Network

We believe everyone has the right to live a life free of oppression, fear and violence. We are a charitable organisation based in London, to help women from the Asian, Turkish & Iranian community get help when they need it. We are here to offer our help support and guidance to Women in need.



Our goals

  • To empower South Asian, Turkish and Iranian women who are experiencing domestic violence with culturally sensitive advice, support and safe housing - enabling them to make positive and appropriate choices for themselves.

  • To raise awareness of domestic violence and carry out preventative work with the community as a whole.


We offer confidential and culturally specific advice, support and information to our clients. Our aim is to empower the women and young people who use our services so that they are able to make informed choices and decisions about their future.

Ashiana is committed to ensuring that its policies and practices provide equal treatment to all, in the allocation of housing, provision of services and in the employment of staff and volunteers.

Although we are based in London, we are here to help all, if you need us please contact us today by phone, or through our contact us page. We strongly believe no-one should have to suffer in silence, it is more difficult for Black & Minority Ethnic women to reach out and ask for help due to fear of the community and families. We are trying to make this easier and simpler and offer our support, guidance and therapeutic counselling tailored to the specific needs of women from these communities.

Ashiana is a charitable organisation and none of our services would be available if it was not for our funders, donations of kind hearted individuals and the help and support of volunteers. Please help us by making a donation today.

Since its inception in 1989, Ashiana has developed and expanded both its services and the client group it serves. Ashiana provides temporary safe, supportive housing for South Asian, Turkish & Iranian women between the ages of 16-30 who are experiencing domestic violence. We also have two safe houses for young women between the ages of 16-25 who are at risk of forced marriages. Ashiana also provides an outreach service at a personal and community level, a programme of educational and advice work with young people of school age, in house counselling services and a teens project for disadvantaged youth in the local community.


Government and media focus has remained on domestic violence and, in particular, forced marriage. The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act was enforced on 25 November 2008. The provisions within the Act will enable courts to have wide discretion on the types of injunctions they make in order to respond effectively to prevent forced marriages and offer protection to those where the marriage has already taken place. This sends a strong message to communities that engage in this practice that it will not be tolerated; we hope this proves to be an effective deterrent. But we must remember that legislation is only as effective as the resources and capacity invested in its implementation.

 

Ashiana is working closely with partners in the voluntary and statutory sector in progressing the strategies on violence against women, honour based violence and forced marriage.