Posie putting her money where her mouth is. Lets do this.

[Fallingirl]

Posie is planning to re-build the women’s sector, starting with crowd funding for a women-only refuge.

I can imagine that the type of person who's kickarse and thick skinned enough to launch an appeal for a women's refuge might not have all the attributes needed to run that refuge in person. And the reverse is equally true.

I also imagine that PP is astute enough to realise this.

The early refuges were very political. They did good, but they also made a lot of mistakes along the way. They were learning what works. We know what works now.

PP's vision for it appeared to be a calm safe space (in the truest sense, not woke talk), when she was talking about women linking arms to protect others I realise it's a romanticised version of what it will become but the basis of it was very clear to me. I don't think it would be linked to her personal politics or her personality at all. I doubt she would even be there on a regular basis as it would be run by staff and volunteers.

Women protecting women. No men. The only thing you have to be to gain entry is be a woman.

As this is just at the crowdfunding stage and as many will watching waiting for this to go wrong, those who aren't supporting this could just wait to see what happens. Those fully in support, like myself can donate or not and also just see what happens. It's really too early to tell but Posie so far has proved that she means business and will not stop. That's as good a place to start as any, for me.

500k is not a huge amount to run a refuge.

I understood that as the purchase of the house tbh but I may have misunderstood.

Women only refuges are important. But there is no such thing as a safe space.
Have they decided how old boys can be before they are not allowed in?

This is all getting a little weird. Posie platforms other women all the time. Just because she has a genius for publicity, and annoys people by shrugging off criticism, doesn't mean she would run a shelter for vulnerable women as an extension of her personality!

If people genuinely think this is a vanity project, then the best way for it to reflect well on Posie would be to make it an example of top notch, best practice.

So either way, there appears to be rather a logic fail going on.

:@Datun there are so few details that of course women will assume that and other things.
I have never seen a crowdfunded for so much money and so little details.

I don't know, something feels a bit off about it. I would feel the same if Katie Hopkins decided to open a women's refuge.

Some wealthy, privileged white women are brilliant at playing to a crowd and courting controversy. They have clear enemies. They play up to their pantomime villain roles.

It's great entertainment but are they really the best people to be helping vulnerable, traumatised women? And can they really understand the issues being dealt with?

Maybe so, but it feels quite jarring to me.

[quote kindofcoping]:@Datun there are so few details that of course women will assume that and other things.
I have never seen a crowdfunded for so much money and so little details.[/quote]
I was under the impression it was because of her personality, not the lack of detail.

@SapphosRock

I don't know, something feels a bit off about it. I would feel the same if Katie Hopkins decided to open a women's refuge.

Some wealthy, privileged white women are brilliant at playing to a crowd and courting controversy. They have clear enemies. They play up to their pantomime villain roles.

It's great entertainment but are they really the best people to be helping vulnerable, traumatised women? And can they really understand the issues being dealt with?

Maybe so, but it feels quite jarring to me.

But did you think that when she went to America to talk to women who were worried about their children? She says she has spoken to women in refuges, she's interviewed women in Scotland.

Are you really comparing Posie to Katie Hopkins?

I never see her playing up to a role as a pantomime villain. What would be the point? She's trying to get people on board.

I have never seen a crowdfunded for so much money and so little details.

But kindofcoping, what do you think is going to happen? If it gets off the ground, do you still think there won't be any details? Crowd funders regularly send updates. She needs money to get started. It's a chicken and egg.

@Fernlake I am concerned about the lack of detail so have asked questions, that no one can answer. Even those supporting this know very little. The answers are just to trust her.
If you want to give away your money on that basis, that is up to you.

@Datun Crowdfunders normally explain how the money will be used and how other elements will be funded if it is a new project. Yes, updates are normal as the project gets off the ground. But you would still expect detail in the crowdfunder such as x amount will pay to buy a house, the refuge will be staffed by x number of staff and volunteers, we will get ongoing costs through..., we have x number of women involved in planning this who have worked in/run refuges.

This is normal. A crowdfunder saying we are going to set up a women's refuge give us money, and nothing else, is not normal.

As I said, your money, up to you. I am not rich enough to give away money on the basis of trust someone who has never run a refuge, but may or may not be working with those who have.

I think questions about the detail are fair enough. I'm not clued up enough on crowdfunding to know what level of detail you'd normally see at this stage but it seems reasonable to me to expect something.

I think questions as to whether Posie has the personality or skill set to run a refuge herself are neither here nor there as it never occurred to me that she would be, although I agree it would help if this were clarified.

When I see comparisons being drawn with Katie Hopkins, well I'm afraid I stop reading.

[quote kindofcoping]@Fernlake I am concerned about the lack of detail so have asked questions, that no one can answer. Even those supporting this know very little. The answers are just to trust her.
If you want to give away your money on that basis, that is up to you.[/quote]
Have you asked Posie?

Yes, she really needs to say who will be running it. After all whoever runs it will be targetted anyway, so there is nothing to be gained by not saying at the moment. Unless she does not know who will be running it.

@Fernlake How am I supposed to ask Posie?

Datun not sure which America trip you are referring to? The only time I saw her in America was the Capitol Hill incident where she stormed into a building and aggressively confronted a trans women.

I wish her well, but surely you can see how intimidating she might be to some women? I'm no wallflower and I would be bloody scared of her. I cannot imagine anything run by her being my first choice of sanctuary if I'd been abused.

For me, I have great faith in Posie and her abilities. I'm more than happy to support her with a donation, and have.

The lack of detail doesn't bother me, because I don't think it's indicative of anything, other than the fact that she hasn't worked the details out yet.

I don't understand the over the top criticism of her. It gets disproportionately personal.

Sapphos What has race got to do with this? You are coming across as extremely prejudiced.

I think if I'd been abused I'd find it a huge relief if I knew someone as determined and passionate as Posie had my back.

@SapphosRock

Datun not sure which America trip you are referring to? The only time I saw her in America was the Capitol Hill incident where she stormed into a building and aggressively confronted a trans women.

I wish her well, but surely you can see how intimidating she might be to some women? I'm no wallflower and I would be bloody scared of her. I cannot imagine anything run by her being my first choice of sanctuary if I'd been abused.

Yes it was that trip. But she went there to support the parents of children.

She was quite clearly overwhelmed by their fear.

Confronting the transwoman was just an opportunity that presented itself at the time.

And I don't understand your last paragraph. Surely the one person you want setting up a shelter or refuge that is going to be relentlessly targeted by men, is someone who is quite capable of holding their own.

I doubt very much that she's actually going to be doing the counselling, for goodness sake.

I totally agree Datun.

[quote kindofcoping]@Fernlake How am I supposed to ask Posie?[/quote]
You can contact her on her website.

www.standingforwomen.com/

Or on Instagram?

@Datun But how do you know the details make this a viable project?
I have set up and run projects, I know the many issues to be addressed including the legal requirements. And unless there is something big she is not telling us, then sustaining a project like this is extremely difficult. It would take Posie continually fundraising for it.
Refuges exist because of grants which will be very hard to get for this project. Even those who support women only space will be wary of attack because of Posie.

It is because I understand what this involves that I do not see how it is realistic unless innovative details had been worked out. If the details really have not been worked out, I am very doubtful this will last more than a year.