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Women's
Aid is the lead voluntary organisation challenging domestic violence in
Northern Ireland. We strive to create a safe and supportive society
for women, children and young people affected by domestic violence. Women’s
Aid
provides refuge and emotional support to women and their dependent
children suffering from mental or
physical harassment within the
home.
We
encourage women to determine their own
future, whether this involves
returning home or beginning an independent life.
We
educate and
inform the public, media, police, courts, social
services and other authorities, always mindful that victims of
domestic violence are a direct result of the general position of
women in our society.
The
Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland has been in existence
since 1978. Belfast, Derry and
Coleraine Women’s Aid Groups formed during the four years preceding 1978
and the Federation was established by them to facilitate further
development. There are now
eleven Women’s Aid groups involved
throughout the Province. Our aims are similar to the local groups:-
The provision of refuge and ongoing support to women and their
children suffering abuse within the home; to encourage a process of self
help and recognition of the emotional needs of children involved in domestic
violence. The raising of
awareness among all agencies and the general public seeks to explore the
social context of domestic violence and its relationship to gender, and
unequal power relationships.
Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland
has a regional responsibility for the development of new and existing Women’s
Aid groups, for policy development and for liaison with a wide range of
statutory and voluntary bodies.
We are a member of the Regional Domestic Violence Forum involved in
implementing the government policy ‘Tackling
Domestic Violence’.
Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland
is an excellent example of a ‘grass roots’ movement which has been able
to develop the leadership and managerial skills of women in order to
challenge attitudes, to press for social change, both in the allocation of
resources and in legislation and to find imaginative ways to respond to this
intractable problem. Self help
and mutual support underpin the process by which victims of domestic
violence regain their self esteem and escape the damaging effects of abusive
relationships. There are currently over 400 bed spaces in fourteen hostels
(known as refuges) throughout the Province.
These provide immediate safety and temporary accommodation to women
and their children during times of crisis.
In addition, there are 19 ‘move on’ houses for families who move
out of the refuge, but who require an intermediate level of support living
independently, but with the resources of the refuge as a back up.
In
any year over 12,000 women seek help from Women’s Aid, of these about
1,000 women and 1,500 children are given emergency temporary accommodation,
and some 400 women and 700 children will be referred to other agencies. (see
also Women's Aid statistics)
Women’s
Aid groups are currently developing a range of outreach, support and
aftercare facilities from locally based centres.
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