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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£3.6M
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Spending
£3.8M
Public benefits
Women, children and young people who are experiencing, or at risk of domestic and sexual violence and abuse within their home (s) have 24 hour direct access and an immediate pathway into to a range of bespoke safety and support services tailored to meet their individual and family needs. Benefits to women and children include receiving an
appropriate response at the point of crisis, need and risk to minimise the escalation of physical and psychological harm at a period when it is heightened. Women and children benefit from the advocacy services provided by Women's Aid as they often have to interact with numerous other agencies who are involved. This includes schools, social services, housing, health visitors, mental health services, GP and hospital services, courts, solicitors, police, DHSS benefits and welfare, employers, and others. Women feel less isolated, alone, judged and blamed for the violence and abuse they have experienced and with 1-1 counselling, group work programmes, meeting other women and getting mutual support they are able to understand the complex dynamic they were living in and begin to make healthy and positive changes for the future. Similar work is done with children and young people who get the opportunity to talk about and their experience with peers and others. They too begin to understand the principles of healthy relationships and the duty that comes with individual rights and responsibilities to behave in a way that doesn't undermine and disrespect the value and dignity of others. The benefits are demonstrated by the number of women and children who use our support and safety services, for example 317 women and 238 children were forced to leave their homes and use our 3 refuges. (I've attached 2014/15 Annual Report for full details across all services) Through risk and needs assessment, support/safety planning,1-1 counselling and personal development (My Life, My Choices) and domestic violence group work programmes (Journey To Freedom) women report feeling safer, less isolated, judged and blamed for what has happened, they are better able to understand the controlling cycle of abuse and control experienced, better able to nurture and protect their children and understand how it was/is for them living with violence and abuse. They also report greater confidence in moving forward to make positive life changes in their lives. Additional evaluation methods include the domestic violence star that progress and outcomes from the point of referral to leaving services There is no harm arising from any of the purposes. Direct beneficiaries are all women, children, and young people who experience, or are at risk of domestic and sexual violence and abuse. Indirect beneficiaries are partner agencies working in the public, statutory, community and voluntary sectors that Women's Aid work with daily to support the needs of women and children. Training and Awareness programmes provided enable staff and volunteers from the agencies to understand the complex dynamics of domestic violence, ensuring they are confident to respond and refer appropriately into Women's Aid and other services. There is no private benefit flowing from any of the purpose of our organisation
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Belfast & Lisburn Women's Aid provides safety and support services to women and children who experience and/or at risk of domestic violence regardless or age, marital status, economic status, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, faith and political beliefs. 3 refuges provide 24 hour access to safe accommodation at the point of risk,
crisis and need, staff carry our risk and needs assessments, safety and support planning, counselling, and a range of group work programmes from mums and their children. The outreach service works in the same way and supports women and children to stay safely in their homes and community. Refuge and outreach staff also work with children and young people to ensure their safety and support needs are met and to address the trauma and upset experienced as a result of violence and abuse. There are specialised services for older women aged 16-25 years. Working in partnership with other agencies is integral to our work and BLWA play a key role in a number of partnerships including the Belfast and South Eastern Health Trusts' Domestic and Sexual Violence Partnerships. Staff are also located in a PSNI station, the Belfast Public Protection Unit and with Social Services in the Belfast and South Eastern Health Trusts. This co-located work ensures safety, reduces repeat incidents and assaults, and generally improve their outcomes for sage and independent living. We provide comprehensive domestic and sexual violence training and awareness sessions to agencies across the public, statutory community, and voluntary sectors to enable more effective response to women and children seeking help. We are advocates for women and children experiencing, or at risk of domestic violence and bring their voices to help inform and influence government policies and strategies.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Children (5-13 year olds)
- Homelessness
- Older people
- Preschool (0-5 year olds)
- Victim support
- Women
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Accommodation/housing
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Counselling/support
- Criminal justice
- Education/training
- Gender
- Human rights/equality
- Relief of poverty
- Volunteer development
