ELWRA in Action
About us
What are the essentials?
• 2 women are killed every week through domestic violence in the UK
• Over 5000 women and children saved since our refuge provision was established in 1976
• For every £1 donated to ELWRA, 83p goes directly to saving and rebuilding lives of women and children
Why are we are doing this?
• Saving the lives of women and children
• Making a real impact to women and childrens lives
• Leading the community in ending domestic violence and rebuilding lives
What we are doing?
• Empowering women and children to live a life free from domestic violence
• Since 1974 we have been inspiring hope in women and children for the future
• We provide the opportunity for women and children to escape domestic violence and transform their lives
• Providing pathways to a successful journeys to freedom
How we are doing this?
• We run the biggest refuge in Lancashire, purpose built with unique security features to protect women and children
• Our track record of unrivalled expertise and the uniquely skilled staff support women to see through and overcome challenges, providing pathways to a successful journey to independence
• ELWRA has established excellent Child-Centred Services because children of all ages deserve a high level of support to overcome the trauma of domestic abuse
• Our specialist Wellbeing Support enables women and children to re-build physically & mentally healthy lives
• Specific focus on supporting the women & children affected by the violence resulting from the issues of forced marriage, with specific support by multi-lingual staff for BME women & children to overcome language barriers, cultural issues to rebuild independent lives
• We deliver excellent quality support out in the community and through the telephone helpline, enabling women to make informed choices and regain control over their lives
• We work with others in partnership to make sure we maximise the benefit we provide for the women and children we help
Her story!
In 1974, Sister Veronica, a local nun, began helping victims of domestic violence after being asked for help by a woman suffering violence at home. In those days, there was no specialist help available … no telephone helplines, no refuges and no local authority services. Word of Sister Veronica's help soon spread, and more and more women came to ask for her support.
Sister Veronica inspired and led a local DV campaign, long before domestic violence was recognized as a serious issue. At that time, the police dismissed home violence as ‘just a domestic' instead of recognizing DV as a violent crime. With little or no legal protection and no services, women and children had no place of safety to and no hope to improve their situation. The campaign gained support and the local council offered a rent free property for use as a safe refuge for women and children. This allowed Sister Veronica, along with a dedicated group of volunteers, to open the first Refuge in the North West of England in 1976. The Refuge made a real difference in the local community, providing sanctuary to many women over the following years.
The Refuge building was a 3 bed-roomed Victorian terrace, initially staffed and managed by the group of committed volunteers. As attitudes started changing and gender equality progressed, government legislation helped to address domestic violence and - as recently as 1990 - the first Home Office circular to chief constables advised that domestic violence should be treated as a crime. The women's movement supported women's rights and choices to live free from violence and abuse. Women became aware that help was available and demand for Refuge accommodation grew. As time went on, funds were sought to employ support workers and June Henry (now sadly deceased) was employed as Co-ordinator, a role she held for many years. Although the Refuge was under-funded and poorly resourced, it was constantly full and overcrowded and sadly, many women and children were turned away due to lack of space.
When Helen joined the Refuge as Manager in 1996, she became the new driving force of the charity. With strength and determination to improve the lives of women and children experiencing violence, she worked in close partnership with local agencies; the Council, the Health Authority and the Police to fund and build the urgently needed much larger purpose built Refuge - which would prove to be a major resource for East Lancashire and beyond. Through successful local partnership working the purpose built Refuge opened in April 1998. With accommodation for up to 20 families, it was able to support many more women and children.
Now in 2008, Helen and her experienced staff at the refuge deliver a wide range of specialist support services for women and children. The Refuge values its experienced staff team and committed volunteers highly, such as Rosemary who has shown a tremendous long term commitment and made a real difference. She has worked with women and children at the Refuge for over 20 years and all residents benefit from her excellent support skills and knowledge.
Whilst still based in the East Lancashire area, women and children helped are from all over the North of England and beyond.
In April we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of opening our unique purpose built refuge which has kept over 3,500 women and children safe!
Contact Us
manager@elwra.org.uk
contact@elwra.org.uk
helpline@elwra.org.uk
Telephone
Helpline: 07866 510 728
Office: 01282 414130
Fax: 01282 414839
Address
ELWRA, PO Box 9, BURNLEY Lancashire
