Pragna Patel, iconic Founder of Southall Black Sisters tells her story of tireless campaigning for justice
02/01/21 • 47 min
Pragna Patel is the founder and director of Southall Black Sisters, one of the UK's leading women's organisations campaigning for the rights of black and minority ethnic women. In 1982, Pragna resurrected a local initiative, turning it into an established advocacy charity, a national helpline and a powerful campaigning organisation. "Our aims are to highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women, empower them to gain more control over their lives; live without fear of violence and assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom."
Pragna tells us about what it takes to establish and grow an organisation - to create the infrastructure, find the right board, maintain values, keep the right balance between services and campaigning. She talks candidly about how to cope with setbacks, find resilience and celebrate achievements - including the passing of vital laws to support migrant women in the UK. We also hear about the powerful Law Centre Movement that inspired her initial work, and the fears she has for equality and social justice today.
"Our vision, our political vision, is one where we see that there is interconnectedness of struggles, that we don't struggle on our own, even as women, that we are connected to the struggles that are taking place on a much more global scale around violence against women." Pragna Patel, in her Social Founder Stories podcast. And her advice to other social founders: "Do not be afraid. Go with your gut feelings and your instincts, that I think is key. And then everything else - you find skills, you find the people, you find the funding -somehow. But my main thing is, if there is that fire in your belly, act on it, do not be afraid." Listen to Pragna and indeed you will come away with fire in your belly.
Please donate to Southall Black Sisters here if you can. Donations small or large will make a life-changing and life-saving difference to countless abused and marginalised women and children who are desperate for protection and support, particularly at this time of Covid-19.
Follow Southall Black Sisters and Pragna:
Twitter: @SBSisters
Instagram: @SouthallBlackSisters
Facebook: @Southall.Black.Sisters
Listen to Pragna's founder story on the Social Founder Stories podcast, Episode 5 - on all podcast platforms or via the links above. Enjoy, and send us your feedback.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/social-founder-stories.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pragna Patel is the founder and director of Southall Black Sisters, one of the UK's leading women's organisations campaigning for the rights of black and minority ethnic women. In 1982, Pragna resurrected a local initiative, turning it into an established advocacy charity, a national helpline and a powerful campaigning organisation. "Our aims are to highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women, empower them to gain more control over their lives; live without fear of violence and assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom."
Pragna tells us about what it takes to establish and grow an organisation - to create the infrastructure, find the right board, maintain values, keep the right balance between services and campaigning. She talks candidly about how to cope with setbacks, find resilience and celebrate achievements - including the passing of vital laws to support migrant women in the UK. We also hear about the powerful Law Centre Movement that inspired her initial work, and the fears she has for equality and social justice today.
"Our vision, our political vision, is one where we see that there is interconnectedness of struggles, that we don't struggle on our own, even as women, that we are connected to the struggles that are taking place on a much more global scale around violence against women." Pragna Patel, in her Social Founder Stories podcast. And her advice to other social founders: "Do not be afraid. Go with your gut feelings and your instincts, that I think is key. And then everything else - you find skills, you find the people, you find the funding -somehow. But my main thing is, if there is that fire in your belly, act on it, do not be afraid." Listen to Pragna and indeed you will come away with fire in your belly.
Please donate to Southall Black Sisters here if you can. Donations small or large will make a life-changing and life-saving difference to countless abused and marginalised women and children who are desperate for protection and support, particularly at this time of Covid-19.
Follow Southall Black Sisters and Pragna:
Twitter: @SBSisters
Instagram: @SouthallBlackSisters
Facebook: @Southall.Black.Sisters
Listen to Pragna's founder story on the Social Founder Stories podcast, Episode 5 - on all podcast platforms or via the links above. Enjoy, and send us your feedback.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/social-founder-stories.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Giles Duley, founder of the Legacy of War Foundation, tells his powerful life story
Giles's reaction to unimaginable physical and mental trauma has been to become a social founder, setting up the global Legacy of War Foundation using his award-winning photography and media skills to document, and counteract, the legacy of war across the world.
Giles' physical and mental resilience are like nothing I have seen or heard before. In this episode of Social Founder Stories you'll hear how throughout his life, Giles has responded to adversity to create impact, but in particular, how stepping on an IED in Afghanistan, left him desperately fighting for his life for 47 days in intensive care, and then 18 months' rehabilitation, after the loss of both legs and his left arm.
No-one expected him to survive those horrendous injuries, let alone to find the drive to continue to work and to travel, using his professional skills and his determination to create high-level positive social impact, setting up and growing his Foundation.
Giles talks in-depth about the work of international NGOs, the power of photography to create impact, and his work in Syria, Africa, Cambodia and Afghanistan, woven into his personal journey leading to his founding of the Legacy of War Foundation, his gruelling recovery from his injuries in 2011, his learnings and values.
You will hear little from me in this interview. Giles tells his powerful story and I listen, moved and amazed at his courage.
Donate to the Legacy of War Foundation here if you can.
Follow Giles:
Twitter: @GilesDuley
Instagram: @GilesDuley
Facebook: @Giles.Duley
Listen to Giles' founder story in the Social Founder Stories podcast series, Episode 4 - on all podcast platforms. Enjoy, and send us your feedback.
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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/social-founder-stories.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Women for Refugee Women founder, Natasha Walter, shares her story
Natasha Walter is Founder Director of Women for Refugee Women, an influential charity providing support for refugee women seeking asylum in the UK. Natasha is a feminist, a human rights activist and an experienced journalist, with a double first from Cambridge University. She is an author of books, including The New Feminism, Living Dolls and the play Motherland.
Natasha became a Founder Director 13 years ago, ‘almost by mistake’. She didn’t intend to set up a charity, but was driven to create social change by the powerful stories of the women refugees she met while working as a journalist.
In this interview with Natasha you will hear about the steps she took to set up the charity, the learnings along the way, the vital support she has had from her Chair and colleagues, and the important mix of services, voice, media and campaigning that underpin Women for Refugee Women and Natasha’s leadership.
She shares insightful views about her frustrations with charity communications, and the importance of sharing the authentic voices and stories of refugees and asylum-seekers.
Since our interview Natasha has stepped down as Director to become Creative Projects Director, handing over the Director role to Alphonsine Kabagabo.
Follow 'Women for Refugee Women' and Natasha:
Twitter: @4refugeewomen @natasha_walter
Instagram: @4refugeewomen
Facebook: @WomenforRefugeeWomen
And if you can please donate to Women for Refugee Women here.
Enjoy, and send us your feedback.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/social-founder-stories.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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