Macmillan Martial Arts Academy - WOMEN

17/09/2026

SEMI FINALIST! 🏆 Thankyou to those that nominated us, and for all the kind words, I was sent some of the supporting statements that were put forward for myself, Empower and the Self defence programs, and I was very touched! It really means a lot!

💜 Congratulations to our Combatting Violence Against Women & Girls Semi-Finalists!

We are delighted to announce the incredible women who have reached the Semi-Final stage of the West Country Women Awards 2026:

✨ Claire Knight, Phoenix Rising
✨ Hannah Ashford, North Devon Against Domestic Abuse
✨ Josceline Leicester, Devon R**e Crisis & Sexual Abuse Services
✨ Lucy Rhodes, SPACE Youth Services
✨ Sarah Parkhouse, St Petrock’s
✨ Sherilee Rollinson, Empower Care Programmes CIC

A huge congratulations to you all on this fantastic achievement! 💜

Thank you to Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, our sponsor for the Combatting Violence Against Women & Girls Award, for helping us recognise and celebrate those working to support and protect women and girls across the West Country.

Devon & Cornwall OPCC

23/07/2026

Whether it happened recently or years ago, you can reach out for support at any time.

We will always listen to you and believe you, and we will never judge. Trained specialists are ready to listen, day and night.

Free, confidential, and available to anyone aged 16 and over in England & Wales.

You can call 0808 500 2222 or visit 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk any time, day or night, all year round.

10/07/2026

LIST OF SAFE SPACES IN PLYMOUTH.....

DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY PLACES YOU CAN GO TO FOR HELP IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE?

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, it can be isolating and difficult to find support or get to a place to help. Or you may feel going to police would raise alarm to your partner/abuser.

UK SAYS NO MORE is working with pharmacies, banks across the UK to provide Safe Spaces in their consultation rooms for people experiencing domestic abuse.

You can use a safe space in whichever way works for you. They provide a safe and discreet way to reach out to friends and family, and contact specialist support services. Safe Spaces are open and ready for you to use.

How to access a Safe Space

Walk into any participating safe space in the UK (list of Plymouth ones in link)
Ask a member of staff at the counter to use their safe space
You will be shown to the Safe Space which will be a private room
Once inside you can use the safe space in whichever way works for you. They provide a safe and discreet way to reach out to friends and family, contact specialist support services and start your journey to recovery.

UK SAYS NO MORE works with Boots UK, Morrisons and independent pharmacies, Santander, Natwest, HSBC UK, TSB banks and more providing safe spaces.

17/06/2026

We firmly believe that every young person should have access to personal safety education and self-defence training.

These are not just physical skills - they are life skills that help young people develop confidence, resilience, awareness, decision-making abilities, and self-belief.

We are incredibly proud of the impact our Self Defence Workshops and Programs continue to have in schools and delighted to receive this wonderful feedback from a Head Teacher whose students took part in our sessions.

Hearing how the program has strengthened confidence, friendships, teamwork, and community within the school is exactly why we do what we do.

If you're a school looking to empower your students with practical life-saving skills while supporting their personal development and wellbeing, we'd love to hear from you.

Here is what Head Teacher of Saltash Community School - Sara Del Gaudio had to say....

"The self defence programme has had a hugely positive impact on the girls in our school.

It provides a safe, supportive environment where students of all abilities can come together to learn important life skills and gain confidence.

Sher is brilliant! Through the sessions, students have developed greater confidence, resilience, and awareness. They are learning practical techniques that help them feel safer, as well as how to stay calm and make good decisions in challenging situations. It’s been especially inspiring to see students grow in self-belief and support one another as they build these skills.

The group has also strengthened friendships and created a strong sense of community within the school. Students encourage each other, celebrate progress, and take pride in what they achieve together. That has all come from the course that Sher and Empower delivered!

This self defence group is an incredibly valuable addition to the school, helping students grow not only in their physical ability but also in confidence, respect, and teamwork, and we can’t wait to welcome them back next year!"

12/06/2026

💜 WOMEN’S SELF DEFENCE – TAUGHT BY A WOMAN, BACKED BY EXPERIENCE 💜

When it comes to women’s self defence, experience, authenticity, and the right instruction matter ✅

We are proud to have Sherilee Rollinson leading our Women’s Self Defence Programme 🙏🏻

Sher has been training for over 12 years and is the ONLY qualified female instructor in the UK certified to teach self defence through The Jiu Jitsu Movement Network, founded by Professor Danny Macmillan Jr., a 3rd Degree Black Belt under the Valente Brothers lineage, one of the world’s most respected and recognised self defence systems 🥋

Alongside her martial arts experience, Sher brings over 20 years of experience as a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, specialising in women’s health, including antenatal and postnatal fitness, recovery, and menopause education. Through her work with Empower, she has become a recognised advocate for helping women build confidence, resilience, and strength both physically and mentally.

Her achievements include:

🏆 Winner of Best Pre & Postnatal Fitness Programme Provider
🏆 Semi-Finalist of the Inspirational Leader Award
🏆 Nominee for the upcoming Women Combatting Violence Against Women & Girls Awards
🏆 Finalist for the Women in Health & Wellbeing Award

Our academy is also incredibly proud to be the ONLY Self Defence Academy trusted, supported and sponsored by Devon & Cornwall Police, allowing us to provide funded and free opportunities for women who may otherwise not have access to this life changing education 👏🏼

To see what all the fuss is about, come along to our next…

🚨 WOMEN’S SELF DEFENCE WORKSHOP 🚨

📅 Saturday 11th July
🕐 1:00pm – 4:30pm

Check out the details in the comments ⬇️⬇️⬇️

10/06/2026

⚠️ Content Notification

The World Cup begins tomorrow on the 11th June.

During the tournament, Trevi will be sharing messages that highlight the patterns of violence against women and girls so often seen around major men’s footballing events. We will also be signposting women to support.

Our imagery and messaging will tell the story plainly and clearly.

It will not sensationalise.
It will not excuse.
It will not look away.

It will name the issue, highlight the rising risk to women and girls, and make sure they know where to get support.

This campaign sits separately from, but alongside, First Light's Blow the Whistle on Abuse campaign, and we will also be sharing their messages.