Basildon Women's Aid

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Basildon Women's Aid is a charitable organisation providing a refuge for women and their children who have been victims of domestic violence, which may be physical, mental or sexual. Many hundreds of women have taken refuge with us since the refuge opened in 1977. The refuge offers an escape route from violence and a chance to seek alternatives to a life of danger, isolation and fear. BWA offers temporary accommodation for women of all ages, races and cultures, with or without children. The refuge is a communal home with shared facilities for twelve families, we also have a total of sixteen self-contained units of accommodation for families. Our residents pay an accommodation fee and the remainder of our funding comes from public funding, fund-raising and charitable donations. Our experienced staff offer support to families to enable them to move on and live a life free of abuse together with a range of activities for the children from fun outings and parties to therapeutic programmes of support. Some women, despite suffering domestic abuse, do not wish to leave home, and they are supported through our Outreach Centre and satellite surgeries in Brentwood, Castle Point and Rochford. We also offer an extensive programme of talks and training sessions to voluntary and statutory organisations and schools. Our trained refuge and outreach staff, as well as offering support and advice on welfare, housing, schooling, legal and women’s rights, encourage women to regain a sense of worth.