Newcastle Women's Aid, a Tyneside charity supporting abuse victims for five decades, has secured vital funding to continue its work for another three years. The grant from The National Lottery Community Fund will enable the charity to provide essential emotional and practical support, advocacy, safety planning, and recovery services to women experiencing domestic abuse, helping them and their children move towards safer futures.
History and Evolution
Founded in 1975 by local people who had been taking domestic violence victims into their own homes, the charity later persuaded the council to provide accommodation, leading to the creation of Newcastle's first women's refuge. After the refuge closed several years ago, the charity transitioned to an outreach service, continuing to offer specialist support across Newcastle.
Funding and Impact
The award comes amid high demand for domestic abuse services, with increasing numbers of women seeking help to escape abuse. Elaine Langshaw, Chief Executive of Newcastle Women's Aid, expressed gratitude: "We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. It is a huge endorsement of the work our team delivers every day and recognises the vital role specialist domestic abuse services play in supporting women and girls across Newcastle." She added that the funding provides security to continue life-changing support and thanked National Lottery players for making such grants possible.
Services Offered
Newcastle Women's Aid provides bespoke programmes and flexible support, including individual risk assessments, legal advice, and practical and emotional assistance. For those remaining in their homes, safety plans are developed. The charity also runs recovery programmes for survivors of abusive relationships to help them regain control and build healthy relationships in the future.
