The Empower Project has said it does not have the “people in place or finances to keep going”.
A Scottish charity supporting communities to end gender based violence has announced it will dissolve in the coming months.
The Empower Project, a prevention and education campaigning organisation, dedicated to facilitating change through dialogue, published a statement this week confirming the move.
The charity was first established in February 2017 with a vision of supporting communities through training, networking, influencing policy and making available resources to lead change to end violence against women and girls.
But director Elena Soper said in a post on the charity’s website that the organisation does not have the “people in place or finances to keep going”.
Despite the organisation expecting to have wound up by May 2023, those behind the project have said they hope to retain resources online for further use.
She wrote, thanking the public for their support: “It goes without saying that the last few years have been incredibly challenging for everyone, and unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we do not have the people in place or finances to keep going. Subject to meeting OSCR requirements, The Empower Project will dissolve by the end of May 2023.
“I have lead this organisation since 2019 alongside absolutely brilliant people who have founded, co-directed and overseen our organisation during my tenure. We've delivered great training and campaigns together, ruffled the right feathers and poured our energy and heart into combating gender based violence in digital spaces.
“Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to realise when the time is up. When you simply don't have the energy to keep fighting to keep the organisation alive against a backdrop of heavily competitive and unsustainable funding options and unsuccessful recruitments.
“On a personal level, this has been a profoundly difficult and emotional decision. The work that we have done has been immensely rewarding but I would be doing a disservice to the organisation and to myself if I were to keep going. Simply put, I have nothing left in me to offer. Burn out in the third sector is rife, and we must pay attention to when our body and minds are telling us to stop.
“So, what now? We are seeing a move backwards from digital platforms taking accountability to keep their users safe and instead promoting intolerance in the name of 'free speech' (yes, Twitter I'm talking to you) but I have faith that there are incredible organisations out there who are doing the good work and I recommend everyone to follow and support Glitch as they continue this fight.
“One last message from me, digital self care is important. Use the tools available to keep yourself safe and well online, take breaks, and remember there is a world out there beyond the doomscrolling.”
