Report on the “Brick by Brick” Campaign and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A collaborative initiative, the “Brick by Brick” campaign, has successfully raised significant funds to provide secure housing for women and families escaping domestic abuse. This report details the campaign’s outcomes, its direct contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and analyzes the broader governmental context concerning Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The findings highlight the efficacy of multi-stakeholder partnerships while underscoring systemic challenges in achieving national targets aligned with global goals.

Campaign Outcomes and Contribution to SDG 11 & SDG 17

The “Brick by Brick” campaign, a joint effort by The Independent and the domestic abuse charity Refuge, has demonstrated a powerful model for achieving social objectives through collaborative action. This initiative directly addresses SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by increasing the stock of safe and secure housing for vulnerable populations.

• Fundraising Success: The campaign surpassed its initial £300,000 target, ultimately raising over £585,000.
• Tangible Results: The funds enabled the construction of two safe houses by Persimmon Homes, providing critical shelter for families. The first home is occupied, and the second is ready for a new family.

The campaign serves as an exemplary case of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, uniting various sectors of society to achieve a common objective.

Key Partners:

• Media: The Independent
• Civil Society: Refuge
• Private Sector: Persimmon Homes, Nationwide
• Philanthropy: The Julia Rausing Trust
• Public & Political Support: The Queen, Sir Keir Starmer, and other public figures.

Addressing Violence Against Women in line with SDG 5

The campaign’s primary mission is to combat domestic abuse, a critical component of SDG 5: Gender Equality, specifically Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls. By providing refuge, the initiative is a life-saving intervention that protects survivors and contributes to their long-term health and well-being, aligning with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Political commitment has been voiced, with Sir Keir Starmer stating, “My government has a commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) and we will need to pull every lever across society to make this happen.” This reflects the cross-societal effort needed to make substantive progress on SDG 5.

Government Strategy and Challenges in Achieving SDG 16

Despite stated commitments, concerns have been raised regarding the government’s progress toward its goal of halving VAWG. These challenges impede the advancement of SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which relies on effective and accountable governance to reduce all forms of violence.

Identified Obstacles:

1. Funding Deficiencies: The Home Office budget faced constraints in the recent spending review, and VAWG was not mentioned in the chancellor’s statement. The CEO of Refuge noted this sends a message that the pledge “is not the priority the government claims it to be.”
2. Fragmented Approach: A report from the Commons home affairs select committee concluded that funding remains “fragmented and poorly aligned with evidence of what works.”
3. Lack of Cross-Government Coordination: A persistent “silo-driven mentality” in Whitehall has been identified as a barrier to the holistic, cross-departmental approach required to tackle a multifaceted issue like domestic abuse.
4. Low Institutional Trust: The select committee expressed a lack of conviction that the Home Office has the “capacity or imagination to deliver on its target,” warning the government will not meet its goal without determined action.

Recommendations for a Holistic, SDG-Aligned Strategy

The forthcoming government strategy on VAWG represents a pivotal moment. To effectively meet its targets and align with the SDGs, the strategy must be comprehensive and adequately resourced.

Essential Components for the New Strategy:

• Integrated Governance: Ensure a genuine cross-government effort, mandating participation from departments responsible for health, education, and technology, as envisioned by SDG 16.
• Targeted Investment: Allocate direct investment for life-saving infrastructure, such as safe accommodation, to meet the objectives of SDG 11.
• Sustainable Funding: Guarantee sufficient and transparent funding for the day-to-day services required to support survivors, a prerequisite for achieving targets within SDG 3 and SDG 5.
• Strengthened Partnerships: Continue to support and leverage multi-stakeholder partnerships, following the successful model of the “Brick by Brick” campaign, in the spirit of SDG 17.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article’s central theme is violence against women and girls (VAWG) and domestic abuse, which is a primary focus of SDG 5. The “Brick by Brick campaign” aims to support women escaping domestic abuse, directly contributing to gender equality by addressing a key barrier to women’s safety and empowerment.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The campaign’s objective is to build “safe house[s]” for women and families fleeing domestic violence. This directly relates to the goal of ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, a cornerstone of sustainable communities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article discusses the government’s pledge to halve VAWG, the development of a national strategy, and the effectiveness of government departments like the Home Office. This connects to building effective, accountable institutions and reducing all forms of violence.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The “Brick by Brick campaign” is described as a joint effort between *The Independent* (media), Refuge (charity/civil society), and Persimmon Homes (private sector), with support from politicians (public sector), trusts, and other backers. This multi-stakeholder collaboration is a clear example of the partnerships promoted by SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The article is entirely focused on this issue, highlighting the “Brick by Brick campaign” for women escaping domestic abuse and the government’s commitment to “halve violence against women and girls (VAWG).”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services. The campaign’s direct outcome is the construction of two “safe house[s]” for families escaping domestic abuse, providing them with essential, safe accommodation. The article states, “The first home is occupied, and the second… is now ready for another family to move in.”

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The government’s pledge to “halve VAWG in a decade” is a direct effort to reduce violence. The article also notes that the campaign could “potentially save lives,” which aligns with reducing related death rates.
  • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article critiques the government’s progress, mentioning a “lack of tangible progress,” a “squeezed” Home Office budget, and a “silo-driven mentality” in Whitehall. It calls for a “genuinely cross-government effort” and greater transparency, reflecting the need for more effective and accountable institutions.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The campaign is presented as a model partnership “run jointly with Refuge, the domestic abuse charity,” built by “Persimmon Homes,” and supported by “politicians, royalty and celebrities,” as well as “The Julia Rausing Trust and Nationwide.” This demonstrates a successful multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve a social goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 5.2 (Eliminate violence against women):

  • Prevalence of violence: The article mentions a government pledge to “halve violence against women and girls (VAWG),” which is a measurable target.
  • Proportion of crime: The statistic that “VAWG accounting for 20 per cent of recorded crime in 2022-23” serves as a baseline indicator against which future progress can be measured.

• For Target 11.1 (Access to safe housing):

  • Number of safe houses built: The article explicitly states the campaign decided to “build a second safe house.”
  • Number of people housed: The article mentions the “first home is occupied, and the second… is now ready for another family to move in,” indicating the number of families provided with shelter.
  • Financial resources mobilized: The amount of “more than £585,000 was raised” is a clear indicator of the resources gathered to provide this housing.

• For Target 16.1 (Reduce violence and death rates):

  • Reduction in violence rates: The goal to “halve VAWG in a decade” is a direct indicator.
  • Lives saved: The article implies a reduction in death rates by quoting Refuge, which noted the campaign could “potentially save lives.”

• For Target 17.17 (Effective partnerships):

  • Number and type of partners: The article lists a diverse group of partners, including a media outlet (*The Independent*), an NGO (Refuge), a private company (Persimmon Homes), trusts, and public figures, indicating a successful multi-stakeholder partnership.
  • Amount of funds raised through partnership: The £585,000 raised is a quantifiable outcome of the partnership’s effectiveness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ca.news.yahoo.com