The founder of a social enterprise created to ensure no woman ever feels hopeless or helpless due to being a victim of domestic violence has been named one of the most exceptional social entrepreneurs in the UK.
Raj Holness was a victim of domestic and sexual violence for twenty years. She launched her charity and social enterprise Breaking the Silence UK in 2013 after barely escaping with her life from two failed forced marriage attempts and an attempted murder.
Describing herself as “survivor, proud to have taken back the voice that was so viciously stolen from me,” Raj set up Breaking the Silence to support and empower victims and their dependents from all walks of life to take back control of their lives and break the silence of their trauma.
Breaking the Silence (BTS) has already supported over 1,000 women who are or have been victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking and/or forced marriage.
Its programmes, therapy, support and counselling services support vulnerable and recovering women and children, and its educational training and workshops give businesses and public sector organisations tools to recognise different forms of abuse.
With a case of domestic abuse reported to police in the West Midlands every 10 minutes on average last year, domestic abuse is an ugly truth that many people live with and grow up with. Having a safe place to go and appropriate support is essential, and BTS will soon move into its own refuge with the support of a mortgage from responsible finance provider and charity, NatWest Social & Community Capital.
This new property will help provide safety for the women and children impacted by the horrors of all forms of abuse.
This week Raj was named one of just 3 UK finalists for the “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” category in the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards, funded by the Citi Foundation, an annual celebration of Britain’s microentrepreneurs that have accessed “responsible” business finance.
Tracy Thomson of NatWest Social & Community Capital commented:
“It is a real privilege for us at NatWest Social & Community Capital to support and work with Raj to grow her business, Breaking the Silence (UK). Raj is actually saving and changing lives, so whenever we hear her talk so passionately about her work, it makes us really proud to be part of that.”
The UK’s 5.6 million microenterprises – businesses with 9 or fewer staff – account for 96% of all businesses, and employ over 9 million people. Some would not exist at all without the financial and business support they access from the UK’s ethical “responsible finance” sector, which in 2019 lent £171 million to thousands of credit-worthy businesses and social enterprises rejected by or unable to access finance from mainstream lenders.
“Social entrepreneurs like Raj play a vital role in strengthening communities throughout the UK by creating jobs, unlocking opportunities, and addressing social and environmental challenges,” said Bob Annibale, Global Director, Citi Inclusive Finance and Community Development.
“The Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards recognise the positive impact they are having on a local and national scale, and these exceptional finalists and the responsible finance providers which supported them all contribute to the economic, social and environmental vibrancy of their communities. We are proud to support the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards and the eighth cohort of finalists in the UK.”
Theodora Hadjimichael, Chief Executive of Responsible Finance, said:
“With impressive entrants from all over the UK, entrepreneurs and their businesses needed to be truly remarkable to make the shortlist. Raj shows how social entrepreneurs’ impact can save and change lives.”
Raj must now wait until 9 July 2020 when the winners of the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards will be announced.
Read about the other finalists here.