Sev Necati worked in partnership with Sanctuary and HMP!

Sev Necati worked in partnership with Sanctuary & Hackney Marsh Partnership (HMP) to deliver our award winning project “Women & Young People’s Safety Solution.” 

Our course was delivered to local women and girls to assist them in feeling safer on the street and when they are out and about in their local area.  Most of the women and girls had not engaged in any form of self-defence or personal safety training and this course empowered and inspired those individuals to take responsibility for their own safety.

The course worked with a diverse range of women and girls, who came from various backgrounds, ages, and abilities and had multiple complex needs.  All our programmes are inclusive and provide a safe female environment, to share, to feel less isolated, vulnerable and to gain valuable skills, as well as get fitter and stronger.  Overall health and well-being and confidence levels are increased as consequence of joining our inspiring projects.

The Participant - Case Study - One

Karen, 49 years old, White British, single has two children.

Please tell us why you became involved in the project/activities?

I became involved in the course because I wanted to take more responsibility for my own safety.  I had been looking into getting into self-defence for my sons and thought why not take care of myself as well.  Its feels empowering to do something for yourself, that’s what it felt like.

You see violence around you and you want to have more confidence to go out and protect yourselves as females, as we are so much more vulnerable.

Please tell us how participating helped you?

It has helped me in so many ways, the course was absolutely fantastic, and it’s everything that you said, practising what you taught us makes perfect.

If you are non-violent person, like myself, I can’t remember the last time I raised my voice; it’s hard to know what to do.  Because of you, I have learnt how to use my voice and make the person around me to think twice about coming towards me in an aggressive way, giving me the confidence to be able to hit back if someone attacked me, as well as getting away.

I must say Sev you are a real inspiration!

How you delivered the course and told us things like if someone attack you or someone bothers you on the bus then you don’t have to put up with it.  That has given me the real confidence to do it for myself.

Please tell us what has changed for you as a result of engaging with the project?

What has changed for me is that I think I feel more confident out and around my neighbourhood and do know what I am doing now.  I feel like I can go out more and become more social, as if something did arise I could deal with it.  I started practising my running again and building up my fitness.  Another difference is now I am interested in boxing and strength training, I am nearing 50 and want to take up this training and improve my overall fitness and improve my health as I know the benefits of taking part in sport.  I also feel more confident in dealing with situations if they were to arise.  I feel less intimidated by others and feel I will be able to assist others as well and not feel this panic inside me, like I did before.

Thank you for delivering such a great course!

Some of the Females Comments

"This course was great."

"I liked the trainer Sev because she was powerful & strong; it made me feel less shy."

"I liked the course being all women because it made me feel safer & more confident."

"I wish it was in every community centre & school, as everyone can benefit from Sev's training. It's priceless!"

"Absolutely brilliant & want more."

"Sev is a great character & trainer."

"Sev always made time to listen & accommodate our personal & learning needs."

"Excellent course!"

"I am very pleased to have taken part on this course."

"Sev was approachable & allowed a safe space for questions."

"Course was excellent. I have learnt lots of tips & techniques for self-defence."

"I have more confidence walking around on the street."

"Sev's personality & approach to training & teaching from real life experiences was insightful."

"This course was very informative & applicable."

"I feel very lucky to have taken part in the training."

"My confidence has increased & it has given me peace of mind to be myself."

"Sev being very good at what she does, she has "street" knowledge."

"I really enjoyed the course & liked how we learnt practical aspects of self-defence."

"The classes were a good pace & well run."

"I would definitely recommend it to women I know."

"I feel much more empowered as a girl since doing this course."

"Really informative & helped me gain confidence."

"I found the course really informative; Sev answered all the questions really well."

"I really enjoyed this course because it felt like a weekly increase of empowerment."

"I now feel much safer walking home late at night."

"Loved it!"

"The course encouraged female empowerment & solidarity."

"Sev is a really good & clear teacher, with a lot of experiences."

“I feel much more emotionally & physically stronger now. Thank you!"

"I feel more confident in my surroundings, against bullies."

"This course has made me feel much more confident in myself! Thank you!"

"The trainer was experienced & had some very useful guidance."

"The course made me feel more empowered."

"Sev's hands on and direct teaching style broadened my perceptions about self-defence."

"Self-defence is important for all women including young women like me."

"Great teacher!"

"The practical exercises built up my confidence."

"The practise was very useful & empowering."

"I really enjoyed the course."

"Fantastic!"

The Participant - Case Study - Two

Marcia, 17 years old, British, single, no children.

Please tell us why you became involved in the project/activities?

I became involved in the course as I have always had issues with doggy men since I was aged 11 years of age, so my sister suggested that I join the course with her to put my families mind at ease.

When I was 11 I was going to school in my uniform and I was on my regular bus, sitting at the back.  There was a guy sitting opposite me and he started masturbating at me.  I couldn’t move and I was shaking and I didn’t know what to do, I was crying and only when he got off the bus I cried out loudly, for someone to help me.

It showed me how vulnerable girls were and I told my dad and he took me to the police station and they didn’t do anything about it and it made me angry as it felt like no-one cared.  The same thing happened again and I froze and I was still 11 years old and this time I was on the train.

Because of your teachings I now know what to do and how to react if a similar situation happened to me.

Please tell us how participating helped you?

It has helped me, feel and be more confident in my ability and I am more confident as a person overall now.

It has given me the ability to protect myself if anything was going to happen again.

I feel less like a target and victim and not passive anymore, as I know I have the ability to fight back if I needed too.  I know frightening back is a last resort but when I am at college and I walk pass the bullies I am no longer afraid.  It has given me emotionally as well as physical strength.

That’s why what you do is so important I didn’t realise how important self-defence was, until I met you.

Please tell us what has changed for you as a result of engaging with the project?

What has changed for me is I feel more confident overall.  I have the ability to know what I can do.  Learning my rights was crucial has it’s really important.  As you know your rights it’s more empowering, as you feel that the system is against you if you don’t know your rights once you do the tables turn in your favour, that’s what it feels like.

Thank you, what you do it’s important for all women and girls.

All names of participants have been changed to protect their identity.

If you are looking for sessions, courses, workshops, projects and programmes that are both engaging, interactive and fun, but also informative and educational then please contact us at:

info@sevnecatitraining.com

If you think that you would like to get involved in our projects then please get in contact.  Our aim is to reduce violence and the fear of violence especially towards females and young people and we do this by delivering empowering and inspiring projects to the local community.  Please contact us: info@sevnecatitraining.com