We’ve partnered with Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland!

As part of our mission to raise awareness of the staggering amount of domestic abuse and sexual violence still happening in the UK today, we’re aiming to take the UK SAYS NO MORE campaign to every corner of the country. This coming October, we’ll be heading over to Northern Ireland to engage with members of the public, meet new partners and spread the #WhatICanDo message – that we’ve all got a role to play in tackling these issues.

We’re excited to announce our latest partner of the campaign, Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland. Going forward, we’ll be meeting the team behind this crucial service to discuss how we can further work in conjunction with them to end domestic abuse across the country.

In their own words…

Women’s Aid is the lead voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland addressing domestic and sexual violence and providing services for women and children.

The Women’s Aid movement in Northern Ireland began in 1975 and is made up of nine local Women’s Aid groups and Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland.

Each Women’s Aid group offers a range of specialist services to women, children and young people who have experienced domestic violence. They are all members of Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland.

Mission

Women’s Aid exists to challenge attitudes and beliefs which perpetuate domestic violence. We seek through our work to promote healthy and non abusive relationships.

Goal

Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland strives to welcome and support all women, children and young people, including those with disabilities and those without, women from minority communities, different cultures, races, languages and sexual orientations and from a wide age range.

What We Do

• provide refuge accommodation to women and their children suffering mental, physical or sexual abuse within the home

• run the 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline

• provide a range of support services to enable women who are leaving a violent situation to rebuild their lives and the lives of their children

• provide a range of support services to children and young people who have experienced domestic violence

• run preventative education programmes in schools and other settings.

• educate and inform the public, media, police, courts, social services and other agencies of the impact and effects of domestic violence

• advise and support agencies in the development of domestic violence policies, protocols and service delivery, and

• work in partnership with relevant agencies to ensure a joined up response to domestic violence.

24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline

The 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline is open to anyone affected by domestic violence regardless of gender, sexuality, disability, age or ethnicity.

If you are being abused, physically, sexually, financially or emotionally, you have choices. Support is available in many forms. You can contact the 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline – 0808 802 1414 for initial support and to consider the options which are available to you. The helpline is open to all women and men affected by domestic violence.

You may not want to leave your relationship at this time. Whether you decide to end the relationship with your partner or not, it is important to look after yourself and get support. Women’s Aid can help you begin to think about how to protect yourself and your children from harm.

Remember, you don’t have to be hit to be hurt and you don’t have to leave to get help.

The 24 Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline offers a confidential service for people seeking help and support. This means that when you call or email us you do not have to give any identifying information such as name, address or telephone number. However, if you do give us identifying information and we are concerned that a child is at risk or a criminal offence has been committed which the PSNI may not be aware of, we will have to pass on that information to the appropriate agencies.

Find out more about Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland here, and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

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Interested in becoming a partner?

Are you or your organisation interested in becoming a partner of the UK SAYS NO MORE campaign? We want to hear from you! Email Partnerships Manager Sarah Winterflood at [email protected] for more information.