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CARDIFF WOMEN’S AIDCYMORTH I FERCHED CAERDYDD Working to end violence against women and children |
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About Cardiff Women’s Aid
about us
In the 1970’s the women’s rights movement identified the daily struggles that women faced, including low pay and domestic violence. The movement worked towards women achieving equality, the right to determine their own futures whether in the home, workplace or society in general and the freedom to live their lives free from abuse and discrimination.
The women’s rights movement identified domestic violence as a mechanism used by men to assert power and control in the home over wives and partners. Cardiff Women’s Aid was founded in 1974 and has developed its policies, procedures and services to reflect its determination to ensure women’s rights are upheld through women supporting women.
Cardiff Women’s Aid still believes that whilst domestic violence and abuse and similar issues are now openly discussed and some women feel more empowered to walk away from an abusive relationship, women continue to have a lack of power and equality and this needs to be addressed.
Our Aims
- Meet the immediate needs of women escaping from or affected by domestic violence
- Empower women who have been affected by domestic violence
- Meet the immediate needs of children escaping from or affected by domestic violence
- Work directly towards overcoming the poverty, deprivation and disadvantage experienced across the community as a result of domestic violence and abuse
- Provide services run by women which are based on listening to survivors and are service user focused
- Directly deliver and influence delivery of preventative work to end domestic violence and abuse
- Support and reflect diversity, challenge discrimination and promote equality of opportunity in all our dealings with stakeholders
- Promote cohesive inter-agency responses to domestic violence and develop and strengthen partnership working
Our Vision
Cardiff Women’s Aid believes that:
- Everyone has a right to live in safety and live a life without fear
- Domestic Violence and Abuse is a violation of the human rights of Women and Children
Cardiff Women’s Aid recognises that:
- Women and children have a right to live their lives free from all forms of violence and abuse, and society has a duty to recognise and defend this right.
- Domestic violence is a violation of women and children’s human rights. It’s the result of an abuse of power and control, and is rooted in the historical status of women in the family and in society
Our Values
High quality services
We are committed to continuous improvement, effective and efficient service delivery, and performance
management that provides support and direction for staff working within a highly complex environment.
Cardiff Women’s Aid is proud of its Investors in People and Investors in Volunteers awards.
Self-determination
Encouraging and supporting women to take control of their own lives to make informed choices.
Through the use of a non-directive approach CWA encourages women to use their own personal
power to make decisions, make changes and to cope more effectively with their situations.
Non-judgemental
Cardiff Women’s Aid delivers its services within a framework of non-judgemental, anti-discriminatory practice,
which challenges stereotypes and recognises that respect and value are core principles within the work of Women’s Aid.
Respect
Cardiff Women’s Aid respects and values the experiences of service users, members of staff (and volunteers)
and the contribution of all its stakeholders and partners.
Women
Cardiff Women’s Aid is a woman focussed organisation and delivers its core work using a women only
paid staff and volunteer team. We believe that it is vital that women in crisis are supported
by women both to create a safe space and also to provide positive, strong role models for women and children.
Men
Cardiff Women’s Aid also recognises the need to provide positive male role models for children
and young people and to engage the support of men where their expertise (particularly as ex-service users)
will inform and enhance service delivery and planning. We also recognise and welcome the support of men
through fundraising activities etc. As part of our evolving service agenda we will deliver male-targeted
awareness raising and support the development of services for men who wish to change their behaviour.
Children and Young People
Cardiff Women’s Aid recognises the direct and indirect impact of domestic violence and abuse on children
and young people and will deliver services and develop programmes to meet their needs.
Self help
By sharing their experiences, women in refuge and in support groups
often find the strength to support each other, to deal with their
difficulties, and to develop their self-confidence and self-esteem. CWA also provides
ervices specifically to support and encourage the development of women’s confidence and esteem.
Human rights, equal opportunity and diversity
CWA is committed to the principles of equal opportunities and to achieving diversity within
its capacity as an employer and a provider of services in order that its staff and volunteer
team reflect its service users and potential service users.
CWA will actively challenge discrimination both within its own organisation, where it is identified with partners and in the wider community.
The organisation recognises domestic violence and abuse as a contravention of the human rights of both women and children and will work tirelessly to establish a just, fair and safe society for all.
Confidentiality
CWA has a rigorous Confidentiality and Professional Boundaries policy so that users of all its services can
be sure that the details they share with CWA workers will remain in the strictest confidence (any exceptional
circumstances such as child protection or protection of vulnerable adults, which will be clearly explained in advance).
Staff are furthermore given strict guidelines for professional boundaries and expected to work within them at all times.
Public awareness and education
By raising public awareness and discussing issues arising from domestic violence and abuse the organisation believes
that women will be empowered to leave abusive relationships and seek support from Cardiff Women’s Aid by accessing
advice, information and the support most appropriate for their personal circumstances which may include refuge,
outreach support (including our homeless prevention team) or counselling.
Through its education and training work Cardiff Women’s Aid also seeks to address the underlying causes of domestic violence and abuse so that it can be eradicated from women and children’s lives.
For individual women (and their children) living in Cardiff their experience will be unique to them, their experience of violence and/or abuse within their relationships from current partners, from ex-partners or male family members may involve physical, emotional, psychological and/or sexual violence. The way that women cope or deal with abusive relationships differ and sometimes the coping mechanisms used include self harm, substance misuse and also fighting back. Although the pattern of abuse will be a combination of all forms of violent and abusive behaviour carried out by the perpetrator the results and effects will be very similar for the women and children involved including fear, anxiety, living within an environment of coercion and control. Not all women survive violent relationships we are still recording a steady number murdered by their violent partners/ex-partners, and for some suicide is also a final escape. For more details about living in and experience of violent and abusive relationships please go to our factsheets and publications page.
The effects on children and young people living in a household where domestic violence and abuse is present, even from an absent parent, is hugely destructive and will have negative effects even if the violence and abuse is only witnessed rather than experienced. Research has shown that even babies are physiologically aware and negatively affected, and the brain chemistry of young children is changed when exposed to on going domestic violence. The effects on children include anxiety, stress, becoming withdrawn, acting out, poor attention, poor sleeping patters… and lots more. The pattern of response will differ according the children’s individual experience and their own personal resources like resilience and personality, but support even to the most robust of children must be available at the earliest opportunity in order that we can start the process of understanding, healing and begin the preventative work that will break both the individual and family cycle of unhealthy relationships. For more detailed information on the effects of domestic violence and abuse on children and young people please go to our factsheets and publications page.
If as a society we want to eliminate domestic violence then we must see these individual experiences as part of the greater whole. Both a form of Violence against Women and to recognise that this is happening across all countries, throughout all societies and within all communities. It is only when we make those links and look for solutions to the overarching issue that we have a chance to make real, meaningful and sustainable change within our families and communities.
There are several varying definitions of domestic violence used by governments, statutory bodies and organisations but the one that we feel best fits with our understanding of domestic violence and abuse is in line with the United Nations declaration on the elimination of violence against women which states -
‘For the purposes of this Declaration, the term "violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.’
Violence against women shall be understood to encompass, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation;
(b) Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;
c) Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State, wherever it occurs.
This is why at Cardiff Women’s Aid we know we need to work to influence policy across all the areas that can help and improve the lives of women experiencing all forms of gender based violence and also make sure that services are holistic in their delivery and a strategic approach is taken to their planning.
During the year April 2008 to March 2009 Cardiff Women’s Aid saw a steady increase in women accessing our services. This was most greatly noted within our Crisis Intervention Centre and more referrals to our counselling service. We increased capacity within both these areas of our service delivery and expect to see demand continue to rise as they become more widely known across the communities that we serve.
For further detail on the statistics and data available please go to our factsheets and publications page.
The Trustee Board (which is also the Board of Directors) are responsible for the overall strategic direction and leadership of the organisation. It meets four times a year with sub committees meeting more regularly which have a more engaged and hands on role in areas such as finance, development, human resources and health and safety. The Board of trustees also collectively ensures delivery of its objects sets its strategic direction and upholds its values. The CWA Board is clear in its role and the boundaries between governance and operational areas.
The Supporting principles that underpin the Boards work are as follows -
- Compliance The Board will ensure that the organisation complies with its own governing document, relevant laws, and the requirements of any regulatory bodies.
- Internal controls The Board will maintain and regularly review the organisation’s system of internal controls, performance reporting, policies and procedures.
- Prudence The Board will act prudently to protect the assets and property of the organisation, and ensure that they are used to deliver the organisation’s objectives.
- Managing Risk The Board will regularly review the risks to which the organization is subject, and take action to mitigate risks identified.
- Equality and diversity the Board should ensure that it upholds and applies the principles of equality and diversity, and that the organisation is fair and open to all sections of the community in all of its activities.
CWA carries out Board recruitment on a regular basis and we are always looking for new members who can bring knowledge, understanding, experience and skills that will support the development and work of the organisation. Do contact us if you would be interested.
Cardiff Women’s Aid is committed to providing a diverse, dynamic, learning and supportive working environment. We are proud to hold the Investors in People and the Investors in Volunteers award.
We work to increase volunteer recruitment and retention from all parts of the community by promoting the full range of opportunities available to volunteers (including trustees), and by raising the profile of Cardiff Women’s Aid and its services.
The main development needs of our staff and volunteers are met by access to high quality, timely and relevant training; supported by effective supervision, coaching and mentoring.
We provide a basic training programme for all new staff and volunteers that reflects our area of work and expertise and includes domestic violence and awareness training at its core.
Training and professional development is ongoing within the organisation and staff are encouraged and supported in gaining qualifications such as NVQ’s in advice and guidance and undertakes relevant advocacy training (i.e. CAADA).
The organisation also ensures that briefings, talks and training take place on a regular basis.
We will make the best use of all our people through the definition of the skills and competencies required in all roles and creating a career structure for paid staff (and volunteers). This work is be supported by flexibly delivered training and underpinned by a commitment to equality and diversity, which meet the needs of the organisation.
We ensure our managers and supervisors are skilled and supported so they can meet the increasing demands placed on them.
We are committed to keeping volunteers at the heart of the service by recruiting enough volunteers to fill all the available roles, including trustees, drawn from all parts of the community including socially excluded groups.
We are currently putting in place a rolling programme of refuge (safe accommodation) improvement including plans to redevelop at least two of our current houses (including changing their locations for safety purposes) over the next three years.
CWA and it partners in Cardiff are also engaged in the development of Women’s Services centre which will act as a physical portal to the range of services provided by the multi agency partnership working with CWA to support women and children experiencing or escaping domestic violence and/or abuse and other forms of violence against women.
A major focus for development as a matter of urgency is a specialist substance misuse refuge in Cardiff where CWA can work in partnership with specialist substance misuse services (cross sector) in order to address the needs of women with these enhanced and complex support needs.
