Here for You
Principal Activities
Refuge
Dundee Women's Aid provides its direct service to abused women through its office at 4 Argyle Place, Dundee which is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm and Tuesday from 1pm to 5pm. Phone cover is from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (answer phone only on Tuesday morning). Safe accommodation is provided in three refuges which provide a total of 13 spaces. Spaces can accommodate single women and families.
All DWA refuge spaces provide independent living space. A stay in refuge can range greatly from one night to periods of over a year, until the woman and those with children have obtained suitable alternative accommodation. This time period provides the woman with an opportunity to recover from the trauma of domestic abuse and plan the way forward in a safe environment. A significant number of women have used the refuges varying in age from 19 - 59 each with their own personalities and stories. It is both humbling and joyous to witness them move forward. However, refuge spaces continue to be in high demand. For the year ending 31 March 2010, 74 women and 69 children were accommodated, unfortunately, frustratingly for staff and service users alike, 47 women and35 children could not be accommodated due to lack of space or appropriate accommodation.
One-to-one support remains the main focus of work within the refuge enabling the service users to cope with the many changes in their lives, exploring emotions and building self-esteem and confidence. Each service user has an individual support plan which is reviewed and updated regularly to ensure her individual needs are being met. Support workers utilise a healthy relationship pack to work through the effects of domestic abuse.
A grant from the Scottish Power People Energy Trust enables the organisation to support a number of women when coming in to refuge with heating and lighting costs and also provides small grants towards electricity costs when moving back in to the community.
DWA has close links and works in partnership with a number of local agencies including staff from the Housing Department, the Lily Walker Centre, Abertay Housing Association, Hillcrest, the Aberlour Trust, Social Work, One Parent Families Scotland, Tayside Police Domestic Abuse Liaison Officer, Amina, WRASAC and Homes in Scotland.
Follow-on
The project aims to help women sustain their tenancies by providing support at that crucial point of re-housing from temporary accommodation. After leaving refuge, on-going practical support (follow-on service) is offered. A personal and social development plan ensures the woman's individual needs are being met - eg applying for grants, benefits, or furniture together with looking at their safety needs. If requested, after 6 weeks the woman is referred on to the Outreach Service.
Most work with women and children is 1:1, and based on their individual needs using a personal development plan. The work has included viewing new tenancies, budgeting, safety issues, legal matters, information about the new communities and resources within it, and to work through the effects of domestic abuse using a healthy relationships pack. It has been encouraging to see women accessing training, starting college courses and volunteering.
Outreach
Support is also offered to women, young people and children within their own homes in the community (Outreach). During the year, the project supported 113 women. Referrals come from a variety of agencies such as Social Work, Victim Support, Tayside Police, Education etc, although many are self-referrals. Children and young people can be seen even though their mother may not have been.
Violence Against Women funding enables DWA to work with community groups raising awareness and ensuring future development work.
Crisis Line 01382 202525 9am-5pm : Text line 0797 172 7068 : Business Line : 01382 666908 :
Email dwa@dundeewomensaid.co.uk