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About us

Founded in March 2024, Protect Black Women is a grassroots organisation dedicated to amplifying the voices, rights and well-being of Black women and girls.

Our story so far Our work
The three founders of Protect Black Women stand together, smiling, in bright printed and white clothes.
PBW's founders on the Ghana Liberation Tour 2025

Our mission

Protect Black Women is an empathic and empowering movement providing a network and support system for Black women and girls. Our work is rooted in empowerment, justice and solidarity.

We are part of an empathic, empowering support system for Black women facing racial trauma, misogynoir, discrimination and adversity. Through advocacy, education and work with others, we champion the dignity and resilience of Black women and girls.

Misogynoir is the particular hatred and prejudice directed at Black women, where racism and sexism meet. The term was coined by Dr Moya Bailey.

Our goal

To contribute to a society that understands its own value as inextricably linked to how Black women are valued, respected and able to thrive.

Through advocacy, partnerships, fundraising and training, we aim to deepen understanding of the challenges Black women and girls face, raise awareness of them, and bring together the resources to address them.

What we do

We work in three ways: through counselling, through creative social practice, and through work for wider change.

Counselling

Our helpline and our counselling partnership with Headstrong Counselling offer spaces of empathic listening, where Black women's experiences and feelings are acknowledged and validated.

Speak to a counsellor

Therapeutic and creative social practice

Retreats, concerts and arts events give Black women safe, nurturing spaces to explore and celebrate their cultural heritage together, and with allies, building a sense of community and shared understanding.

See our programmes

Societal change

Advocacy, research, coaching and fundraising partnerships that help build workplaces, schools and communities where Black women can prosper.

Our training and coaching programmes are delivered with leading practitioners in diversity and inclusion. They include the Black Empathic Approach devised by Dr Isha Mavinga-McKenzie, creative social practice workshops with Black feminist writers such as Foluke Taylor, and equine and other forms of coaching.

Work with us
Women in bright dresses dance together at the gala, laughing.
The gala, Ghana Liberation Tour 2025
A speaker addresses the room at a Protect Black Women event, microphone in hand, as others listen.
Speaking at a Protect Black Women event

Our story so far

From our founding in 2024 to the eighth Accra Principle in 2027.

  1. Protect Black Women is founded

    Dyann Heward-Mills, Christine Fostvedt-Mills and Foluke Taylor found PBW as a grassroots organisation for Black women and girls.

  2. Our first parliamentary roundtable

    Held at Portcullis House, chaired by Baroness Doreen Lawrence and attended by MPs.

  3. The first Corporate Golf and Spa Fundraiser

    A day at The Grove, Watford, that raised £13,131 from raffle sales, auction items and direct donations.

  4. The Ghana Liberation Tour begins

    46 Black women and allies from the UK and the US travel to Accra, on the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's murder.

  5. The Accra Principles are declared

    Seven Principles are declared and signed at the grounds of the British High Commission, and 28 May becomes the International Day for the Protection of Black Women and Girls. Read the Accra Principles.

  6. Backtalkers UK in London

    Our flagship Backtalkers UK takes place in London, with our partner Born in Me. About Backtalkers UK.

  7. Membership is announced

    PBW Membership is announced in our newsletter.

  8. Membership opens

    A free tier and a paid tier, for adults aged 18 and over. About membership.

  9. End of May 2027

    Return to Accra 2027

    We return to Accra, where the eighth Principle, Environment, will be declared. Plans for Return to Accra 2027.

Who we are

Protect Black Women is the trading name of IrisMay CIC, a community interest company.

We were founded in March 2024 by Dyann Heward-Mills, Christine Fostvedt-Mills and Foluke Taylor.

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Our partners

Headstrong Counselling

Our counselling partner. Eligible Black women in the UK who come to us are offered a complimentary initial assessment and sponsored counselling.

Visit Headstrong Counselling

Born in Me

Our partner on Backtalkers UK, first held in London on 20 September 2026.

About Backtalkers UK

Partner with us

We are part of a broader ecosystem and proud to work with organisations doing similar work. To talk about partnership or sponsorship, email info@protectblackwomen.com.

Ways to support us

Hear from us four times a year.