Women

How can we help?

SWACA is committed to providing free and confidential services to women. Our caseworkers provide a safe place for women to talk.

Our services include advice, advocacy, structured programmes of work, parenting support, and therapeutic support.

We offer support to women in either one-to-one or group settings, either at our office or a local community venue.

Women can self-refer or be referred by agencies, family members or friends, providing that consent has been gained to make the referral.

SWACA has a refuge and can offer residential support families.

Service user safety is paramount to SWACA.

How we do it

• We provide emotional support and a counselling service
• We help women develop their own personal plan to address their priority needs
• Caseworkers help women to identify their support networks
• Women are signposted when appropriate and Caseworkers liaise with other agencies
• Safety plans are developed and reviewed regularly
• We promote confidence, independence, self-esteem and empowerment
• Caseworkers support women to explore what options are available to them
• Support is offered around parenting issues
• Women are supported in understanding the civil and criminal court process
• Solicitor surgeries are available

Group support – The Mirror Project

This seven-week programme looks at the impact domestic abuse has on a woman as a person and as a parent as well as the impact on children and young people living in an abusive environment. It aims to support and empower mothers to develop further understanding in these areas.

A focus of The Mirror Project is around the impact on children; it enables women to reflect on this and gain effective parental communication skills to help improve and maintain their relationship with their children. The programme provides the opportunity to explore and develop the skills needed to identify risks to both themselves and children, including ways of addressing these risks.

Women will also acquire an understanding of safety and how they can help create a safe environment for both themselves and their children.

The Mirror Project is specifically designed to help rebuild women’s confidence and self-esteem.

Aims and objectives

• Gain an increased understanding of domestic abuse
• Gain an increased understanding of the effects domestic abuse has on adults
• To understand how domestic abuse can affect you as a parent
• Increase understanding of the impact domestic abuse has on children/young people
• To develop skills to identify and manage risks to self and children/young people
• To develop skills to communicate and respond to children/young people
• To raise awareness around healthy relationships
• To gain an understanding and awareness of coping strategies for both women and children/young people
• To rebuild confidence, self-esteem and independence to promote moving on

Need more information?

If you’re looking for support and would like to self-refer, please contact us direct.

If you’re an agency or other professional, please use the referral form below.

If you’re a concerned family member or friend, you can contact us direct, providing consent has been gained to make the referral.

For more information on domestic abuse and how we can support those affected by it, visit our Resources section.