On Thursday 25^th April, Self injury Support and Bristol Women’s Voice hosted a city-wide ‘Visible Women’ celebration of the achievements of the many women’s group, large and small, that support women’s health and wellbeing across Bristol.

 

The event was also a celebration of the 30^th anniversary of Self injury Support. Founded by women’s mental health activists in 1988 as Bristol Crisis Service for Women, the organisation runs a national phone, text, email and webchat support service for women affected by self harm, from their office in central Bristol, as well as providing information, training and self-help tools.

 

The ‘Visible Women’ event on 25^th April celebrated all that is being done in Bristol to support women’s health and was attended by larger services such as Southmead Maternity Services and SARSAS through to very small volunteer-led groups including Women’s Independent Alcohol Support.

 

Attendees had the chance to take part in organisational ‘speed dating’ and discussion groups, contribute to a celebration wall and record video messages and take part in some craftivism, as well as enjoy some celebratory cake and a performance from Bristol Improv Theatre.

 

Director of Self injury Support, Naomi Salisbury, said “We’ve been blown away by the range of women’s groups in Bristol and had a great time celebrating all the amazing work happening across Bristol, and eating some cake of course!”