20th February 2009 - Bristol Feminist Network organised a Reclaim the Night march for Bristol.  Hundreds of men and women took part in this very successful event which brought together activists, campaigners, service providers and the people of Bristol with the aims of securing long-term funding for Rape Crisis, promoting education in schools about consent and respect in relationships, and driving up the conviction rate for rape in Avon and Somerset. FFI contact bristol_feminist@yahoo.co.uk or visit the facebook page or BFN's Yahoo mailing list and discussion forum.

20th February 2009 - Bristol's Sexual Assault Referral centre, AKA The Bridge, opens its doors officially.

January 2009 - Bristol Fawcett receive a reply from Kier Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, in response to concerns we raised with Stephen Williams MP about the nature and extent of training for specialist rape prosecutors.  The letter confirms that in addition to e-learning (learning over the internet) all specialist rape prosecutors will receive classroom based training to learn about the effects of rape, including rape trauma syndrome,  and tackling rape myths and stereotypes as well as the importance of focussing on and supporting victims.  Read the full response here.

April 2008 - Bristol is one of three local authorities in the South West who have included support for victims of serious sexual offences in their Local Area Agreement indicator targets, agreed in April 2008.  The Home Office has commended Bristol for this and will be giving support for the development of models for successful delivery.  Read Bristol Fawcett's response to the Home Office consultation on development of the indicator here.

March 2008 - To Mark International Women's Day, on 7th March 2008 Bristol Fawcett member Elaine was recognised with a "Women who Make a Difference" award for her campaigning for service provision.  The Bristol Evening Post reported the story (8/3/08):
Elaine has spent the past year campaigning for funding to set up a centre to support victims of rape in Bristol.  She said: "It is absolutely great to get this award, although I did not secure funding for this project on my own.  I feel it is very much a collective effort from many different women that I have had involvement with at various stages.  I have been in Bristol for two and a half years and I got involved in this because I had previous experience of setting up a Rape Crisis service in Newcastle in 1976 and it is still open today.  There is a lack of funding, provision and services for victims and survivors of rape in Bristol and now we have secured the funding we will be looking for women to be involved in the process of setting it up."  Elaine's nominator Nicola said: "Elaine has worked tirelessly during 2007 to secure investment from the city council in rape crisis services in Bristol.  This provision will make a massive impact on the lives of women who are victims of sexual violence."

On 12th March 2008 Elaine gave an interview on Richard Wyatt's Breakfast Programme (BBC Radio Bristol) about Rape Crisis provision in the city.

On 6th March 2008 Bristol Evening Post responded to our press release, with an article publicising the Million Women Rise March in London.  Several Bristol Fawcett members took part in the march.

In January 2008 the announcement was made that from 2008 onwards, Bristol City Council will be making a substantial investment in a Rape Crisis Service to complement the Sexual Assault Referral Centre that will be opening in 2008.  We have been fortunate in Bristol that senior Council officers, Council Members and Cabinet members are united in their appreciation of the importance of these services and have championed the cause.

On 4th December 2007 Elaine made a submission to full council concerning the need for sexual violence services.  Watch it here: go to 01:09:48.