November eBulletin
- A film about abortion that may change your life
- A tragic anniversary
- Thanking our supporters, once again
- Women we’ve helped
- Seeking a volunteer writer
- Roundtable on feminism and repro rights
A chance to see After Tiller
There are still tickets left to see the award winning documentary AFTER TILLER. Presented in partnership by Abortion Support Network (ASN) and Education for Choice (EFC), the film presents the four doctors in the US providing third trimester abortions and the women and couples who need them in a way that is seldom seen outside of clinic consultation rooms. JUST ANNOUNCED! There will be a short discussion after the film, led by ASN director Mara Clarke and Jane Fisher, director of Antenatal Results and Choices, the national UK charity providing non-directive support and information to expectant and bereaved parents throughout and after the antenatal screening and testing process. Watch the After Tiller film trailer or book your tickets.
Calling all bakers – we will be having an ASN/EFC bake sale before and after the sale. Please contact us if you are able to bring along a cake, biscuits or brownies to sell.
Savita Halappanavar: One year on
It’s hard to believe a year has passed since the tragic and most likely avoidable death of Savita Halappanavar. Our hearts break for her husband and family. While not a campaigning organisation ourselves, ASN is in full support of the Abortion Rights Campaign of Ireland, their campaign to #RepealThe8th amendment, and the work they are doing that will hopefully, and quickly, enable women in Ireland to access safe, legal abortions in their own country.
Thanking our supporters
The calls and emails keep coming to ASN from women and families who need our help. For our phone volunteers there is nothing like being able to say “yes” to a request for help from someone on the other end of the phone. We wanted to take a moment to thank all of our supporters for the donations that enable this to happen. In addition to the £500 raised from our recent 1000th call campaign, we’ve also reached our target of £1500 a month in Standing Orders. So thank you, thank you, thank you!
Women We’ve Helped
This month we heard from a number of women who were early enough in pregnancy to obtain a safe, early medical abortion from www.womenonweb.org.
A mother of two struggling to support her two children on lone parent benefits and child support.
A young woman who thought she was 8 weeks pregnant and was shocked to discover that she was 20 weeks pregnant, a procedure price difference of more than £900. Despite not being able to tell her parents or family, she was able to raise a large portion of the cost of procedure and travel and ASN was able to fund the £400 difference.
The mother of a suicidal young teen afraid to put her daughter through the harrowing process of obtaining an abortion legally.
A woman facing a number of difficulties including severe depression and a recent bereavement. ASN agreed a grant to help cover the cost of the abortion but in the end received a text from the woman, explaining that she didn’t need our assistance as she’d had a miscarriage:
“I’m relieved but also strangely sad. I’d actually begged and prayed that this would happen and it did. Thanks so much for your kindness. I’m still in shock.”
We also heard from a number of couples facing the double tragedy of a wanted pregnancy with fatal foetal anomalies and the misfortune of living in a country that turns its back on people facing that situation. This included:
A couple who had lost one child to a genetic disorder. When they found out this new pregnancy had the same disease, this couple could not face continuing the pregnancy only to lose a second child. ASN was able to provide a grant of £675 towards the £1300 cost of the procedure, as well as a host for the nights they needed to stay over.
A couple who tried absolutely every avenue to be allowed to terminate their incompatible with life pregnancy without having to leave the country and their families. In the end their request was denied and they were forced to travel, which was made possible by the generous support of a UK clinic and a travel grant from ASN.
A couple who received a diagnosis of Edwards Syndrome and were unsure of next steps. We were able to connect them with a clinic, ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices) and Termination for Medical Reasons for support.
We thank these women and men for allowing us to share their stories. Please note that all monies are written as GBP regardless of where clients are resident.
Seeking a volunteer writer
Looking for a great CV booster or have a little time on your hands around Christmas and early 2014? We’re looking for someone who can help ASN’s director plan and write our 2013 annual report. This important document helps ASN communicate with supporters, potential funders and organisations that might point women needing our services in our direction. Previous reports can be viewed here but this year we are working with a designer to create something shorter, more engaging and a little more 21st century. We’re pretty excited about it and hope you are too! If interested, please email [email protected].
Feminist and Repro Rights Roundtable
Come along to “Our Bodies, Our Choices – Feminist Perspectives on Reproductive Rights” at 7pm on 26 of Nov at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Room G2. This roundtable discussion will look at ways in which the state controls women’s bodies as well as the many ways that we are resisting. Panellists include speaker from Queer Strike, activists from Chile and ASN’s Mara Clarke. More info here.
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Thank you again for all your support. Without you, we wouldn’t have been able to provide financial assistance, accommodation and confidential, non-judgemental information to many women who have contacted us for support.