Chichester Cathedral and My Sisters’ House Women’s Centre have announced a new partnership, bringing together two Sussex-based charities with a shared commitment to promoting safer environments, raising awareness of domestic abuse, and supporting people who have been affected by violence, abuse or harmful behaviour.
My Sisters’ House provides confidential, trauma‑informed support by women, for women across Arun and Chichester District Councils. They offer a safe, understanding space for women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse, helping them regain independence and rebuild their lives.
For more than 950 years, Chichester Cathedral has been a living church in the heart of Sussex, welcoming people for worship, learning, culture and community life. Working alongside local organisations, the Cathedral supports initiatives that benefit individuals and communities across the region.
Chichester Cathedral is an important and trusted place at the heart of our community, and this partnership creates a powerful opportunity to bring people together around that shared responsibility. By combining the Cathedral’s community reach with the specialist expertise of My Sisters’ House, we can raise awareness, inspire action and send a powerful message: together, we can challenge abuse, break the silence and help build a community in which everyone can live safely and with dignity.
The partnership creates opportunities for shared learning, helping both charities build on their existing work to foster environments where people feel safe, respected and able to access appropriate support. It will also encourage conversations that challenge harmful behaviours and promote healthy relationships within families, communities and organisations.
The partnership will begin with joint activity during this year's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign that raises awareness of violence against women and girls and encourages action to help create safer communities for all.
Throughout the campaign, visitors to the Cathedral will be invited to make a personal pledge of support for people who have been affected by violence, abuse or harmful behaviour. These pledges may include commitments to prayer, learning, raising awareness, challenging harmful attitudes, supporting survivors, or taking other positive actions. Displayed within the Cathedral, they will serve as a visible reminder that everyone has a role to play in creating safer environments for all.
The Dean of Chichester, the Very Rev’d Dr Edward Dowler, said:
"We understand that for someone who has experienced abuse, feeling able to ask for help can be an important first step. This partnership will help the Cathedral build on its existing work by learning from specialists who work alongside survivors. As Christians, we are called to care for one another, uphold the dignity of every person, and help create communities where people are safe and valued. We look forward to working alongside the team at My Sisters’ House to raise awareness, build understanding, and help connect people with the support they need."
Avril Robinson, CEO at My Sisters’ House, said:
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Chichester Cathedral. Domestic abuse and gender-based violence cannot be addressed by specialist services alone. Creating safer communities requires all of us to play a part. Women and men, standing together, have the power to challenge the attitudes and behaviours that allow abuse to persist and to say, clearly and collectively: enough.
“For far too long, survivors of domestic abuse have been silenced, while too many people have felt unsure about whether, or how, to speak out. Every one of us has a voice, and we can use it to challenge abuse, stand alongside survivors and help create the change we want to see in our communities.