Tuesday 24 October 2017

Sev Necati worked in partnership with Wembley Futures and Big Lottery

Sev Necati worked in partnership with Wembley Futures and Big Lottery, to deliver our award winning project “Women & Young People’s Safety Solution.” 



Our course specifically designed for women and girls in personal safety and self-defence was empowering and helped the group become more confident as well as improve their overall well-being. The course was all inclusion of local residents and we had young girls aged thirteen attending as well as women aged up to seventeen.  The course brought all members of the community together regardless of the age, ability or background, so they could feel inspired.



The course provided a holistic approach to the training and this meant they were able to take part in something realistic for the 21st Century.




The course meant that women and girls felt less isolated and vulnerable, as well having an understanding of how not to become repeat victims or victims to crime in the first instance.
Participants said how they now feel safer in their local community and how they are encouraged to make daily sport and exercise part of their regime.
The group took part in self-defence activities each week, which meant that their stamina, strength, physical, mental health and overall fitness levels improved.

Our projects not only increase the confidence and self-worth of those that engage, more importantly they empower and inspire women and girls, to positively grow in their lives!




The Participant - Case Study - One
Jani, 22 years old, African Somali, single no children.

Please tell us why you became involved in the project/activities?
I became involved in the course because I was not confident in my ability to defend myself if anything happened to me when I am outside on the street.
A few years ago when I was in 6th form I was being followed by some guy that was trying to get my number, he kept hassling me however I brushed him off and he just disappeared.  Then one night I was on the phone about 11pm at night and I went through a short alley way as I went through it he was there, he grabbed my arm and we got into a confrontation, shouting, I was very scared.  Once you come out of the alley way there is a car park which is normally quiet that time of night.  He was trying to get me to the car park by dragging my arm and I realised I wasn’t strong enough to get him off.  There was a lady in Argos and she was shutting up shop and she heard what was happening and she came over to help me.
Apart from understanding that I couldn’t defend myself against a grown man, it affected my day to day life, my social life it stood still, I just wanted to stay in all the time and not go out, it knocked my confidence and made me very paranoid.



Please tell us how participating has helped you?
The sessions have helped me learn techniques that I could use if I ever got into a similar situation again.  When you were teaching us how to get out of holds etc. I was comparing what I had learned with what happened and understood how I could get away and it has made me much more confident.
The techniques were very beneficial.  Also the victims support presentation has helped me and I am preaching about them to anyone I know.  Personally I thought you had to go to the police however you can go straight to them, which is very helpful to know.  I am telling everyone as they are not comfortable about reporting it, so this course has widened my knowledge.

Please tell us what has changed for you as a result of engaging with the project?
What has changed for me is my mind-set I feel more confident, comfortable at any point of that day and night my ability to defend myself and my paranoia and fear has completing gone.
I use to spend a lot of money on cabs and being on the phone to someone to feel safe but I don’t do that no-more I have lost my fears.
I am starting a job with Metropolitan Police helping them recruit and I am looking at jobs where I can help others which I found very inspiring after completing your course.



Some of the Females Comments

“I liked learning the different techniques and types of situations to defend myself.”

“I love Sev’s personality, knowledge and everything she taught.”

“I loved this course.”



“This training boosted my self-confidence and made me understand the power I have to protect myself.”

“The techniques used, explanations given were very useful.”

“Sev was very motivating and knew your individual limits and what everyone was capable of.”




“The whole group was very inter-active / positive and enthusiastic.”

“Building on my confidence as well as my fitness.”

“This course was worth it.  I have learnt a lot.”



“Learning all different techniques was very beneficial and has given me more power and confidence in myself.”

“Very useful, I have definitely gained a lot more confidence when approaching others, if need be.”

“It was very fun and good to learn ways I can be safe now in the environment.”


“I will recommend to friends who are interested in the course.”

“I learned very good techniques.  I learn which help according to my age.”

“The training gave me more confidence to walk in the night.  Thanks so much!”




“Sev ensured to answer any questions we had, and empowered us to be confident and believe in ourselves.”

“I think the training provided is very practical and useful in this day and age, where in some situations, we have to defend ourselves.”

“Every woman, should be offered this opportunity, and not rely on others to protect herself.”




“I would definitely recommend your course to anyone that has self-confident and self-esteem issues as it’s not just about self-defence.  It’s about personal development and it boosters your confidence when you are out and about.”


“My stamina has increased and I have now focused on exercising at home and I am also going to the gym.”

“It has been very empowering the whole course.  Thank you!”



The Participant - Case Study - Two
Beji, 48 years old, Indian, married with one child.

Please tell us why you became involved in the project/activities?
I became involved in the course because I have a little baby, a 2 year old and I do go out with him with the buggy and I thought in this day and age it’s better to be safer and be able to defend yourself when out and about.  I also thought it would be good to get fitter as I am currently on maternity leave and wasn’t getting much exercise.

25 years ago my whole family were kidnapped at gun point back home, fortunately we escaped and not physically harmed.  However if I go back to my home country it is better if I can take care of myself it is safer, as security is a big issue there.  I cannot go out in the day or night there, its 24 7 there.  At night I cannot take the car out on my own it’s too dangerous.  I wouldn’t feel safe.  In the day it’s difficult to walk around, only if you are driving might you be safe, it’s impossible in the night.  If I went out in the day I would have to have no valuables on me at all.  So safety is a main concern back home.

I am going back in a couple of month’s-time so I will require an escort.
Kidnapping is a huge problem there, burglary and life threats to rob are normally done with a weapon and it’s an everyday thing.  So I always felt I should have done this a long time ago.
In the 17 years I have lived here my brother who lives there has been robbed a couple of times at gun point, in Kenya, in his shop.  So was my mum when she use to run the shop.
During the elections back then we did a neighbourhood watch scheme with the local police to protect the local community, which kept us safe at that time and patrolled the area.  However women were not allowed to be on the street only in the control room and men were on the street, they were getting shot at.



Please tell us how participating has helped you?
The sessions have helped me boost my confidence, made me realise that I am not fit and that I have to get fitter.  It has given me an awareness that you have to be aware of your surroundings to stay safe, whether you in this country or aboard, it’s so important, in some aspects / scenarios your perspective changes, you don’t take things for granted.  I have a confidence boost and awareness that has really helped me.

Please tell us what has changed for you as a result of engaging with the project?
What has changed for me is that it has made me stronger physically and mentally because I know somehow what I can do and can’t do.  I have been talking to people about the 10 weeks I did with you and talking to people about what we learnt on the course like the awareness, confidence building, relationships and how they affect you.  It has given be a different insight and made me stronger.  Being small with my height was an inferior of mine and it’s not so bad now.  Self-awareness of myself I have developed in so many ways.
I become more aware of myself and what I am capable of.
It was a very useful and helpful and the whole group was excellent and you were brilliant.  I was pushed to my limits however that confidence pushed me through as an instructor and doing this for 10 weeks you also came a friend that we could talk to you openly about anything.  I really happy that I did join the group.  I would recommend the course and I hope to get this into my community.



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