ABSTRACT
Support Our Sisters (SOS) was established by New Step for African Community (NESTAC) in 2011, as part of their programme of health and wellbeing initiatives. NESTAC is a UK-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Greater Manchester in the north of England. SOS offers a range of psychosocial interventions within community-based clinics, including peer-led support and community development around the practice of FGM.
This chapter presents the SOS model of groupwork which was developed with and for women affected by the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). The context in which the groupwork has been implemented, the pathway to its development, the values underpinning the approach, and a description of the model are discussed. The author reflects on the effectiveness of the approach on women’s emotional wellbeing and explores the mental and physical impact of FGM on women, girls and communities. The chapter defines FGM, its prevalence in the UK as well as outlining the UK legal context. The author shares some of the challenges she and her colleagues faced in establishing the programme and lessons learnt.
