A COMMUNITY group will be set up to help prevent the barbaric practice of female genital mutilation.

Girls Empowerment Initiative, Basildon has been given a grant of £10,000 from the National Lottery’s Big Lottery Fund.

Muzvare Hazviperi Betty Makoni, director of Girls Empowerment Initiative UK CIC said the funding means so much to the group.

She said: “Girls Empowerment Initiative UK CIC could not have done it if it was not for the grant received from Big Lottery.

“Girls are vulnerable to hidden harm and this grant comes at a time when we have to reach communities and raise awareness on prevention.

“Teen pregnancy is high in Basildon.

“Mental health is highest amongst girls nationwide.

“We feel this grant from Big Lottery will transform the lives of many girls and create the first ever girls empowerment club that provide girls with information, inspiration and encouragement they need to reach their potential.

“Big Lottery and all lottery funders are supporting minimising risk amongst girls and ensuring no girl is a victim of harmful cultural practices.”

The group is non profit voluntary organisation investing in programmes which provide specialist services and programmes to empower girls aged up to 21-years-old who are at risk of harmful cultural practices, beliefs and attitudes.

These include all forms of FGM, child sexual exploitation, grooming, honor-based violence, and early forced marriages and pregnancies.

The group aims to give support to victims of such practices in sharing their experiences, seeking early support, and stopping others from falling victim.

Essex isn’t alone in enjoying the good news – the East of England as a whole is receiving more than £3 million in total in National Lottery funding for this quarter, which is being distributed across 176 community projects and organisations.

The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving money raised by National Lottery players. A total of six community groups in south Essex were among the dozens nationwide to

receive grants to help communities ranging from kids clubs to community hall improvements. For more on the group visit girlsempowermentinitiative.co.uk/