BWA Annual Report 2020This year, we have all had to adopt new ways of working, try new things and have embraced technology more than ever before.
In an effort to keep innovating, we have tried to do something a little different this year with our annual report so have created a short video, which you can view below. It represents the fact that although we aren't able to come together as much in person, our individual contributions still combine and go towards the same end goal. Thanks to the staff and Board at BWA for being good sports and submitting their voice overs (and forgive any sound quality / poor editing!). Also, below is our annual accounts. 
Border Women’s Aid
PRESS RELEASE – 15 January, 2020 Border Womens Aid receives National Lottery and Robertson Trust funding Border Women’s Aid, a service dedicated to keeping women and children in the Scottish Borders safe from domestic abuse, is celebrating a brilliant start to the New Year with grant awards from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Robertson Trust. These awards will support the expansion of Border Women’s Aid services across the region. The funding will be used to extend the current practical and emotional support for women leaving refuge from the current 4 weeks for up to a year. This extension will focus on support to help women rebuild their life after leaving refuge by sourcing and accessing community activities, reducing isolation and enabling involvement and belonging. Border Women’s Aid will also be able to respond to requests for support from women across the Scottish Borders who chose not to come in to refuge but require specialist support with moving on from an abusive relationship. Carol Hush, Manager of Border Women’s Aid: ‘Our partnerships with the National Lottery Community Fund and the Robertson Trust are a great boost for our service. Currently there is such a large unmet need. According to Police Scotland, last year in the Borders, over 800 women reported domestic abuse. Since these grants will run for three years, this will enable us to respond with confidence to local demand, by increasing our capacity to support women experiencing domestic abuse.’ Notes to Editors: The National Lottery Community Fund: We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people. We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life. The Robertson Trust: The Robertson Trust is currently the largest independent grant-making trust in Scotland and has a vision to improve the quality of life and realise the potential of people and communities in Scotland – inspired by the example of our founders, the Robertson Sisters. Borders Womens Aid: We are women supporting women, for however long it takes, to regain control of their lives away from abusive relationships, and to empower them to decide what is best for them and their children. Our mission is to provide a community where all women and children can be safe and strong and to end domestic abuse in all its forms. BWA's Annual Report 2019 is now available to download. Please get in touch if you would like a paper copy.
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RAISING OUR VOICE: Border Womens Aid
Press Release 25 November 2019 “You helped me realize that I deserve better.” (BWA service user) To coincide with the start of the annual international campaign, ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’, and Police Scotland’s social media campaign to end gender-based violence, Border Womens Aid is launching its latest Annual Report. It is an opportunity to publicize our work, and to reflect on how Border Womens Aid is evolving as an organisation to meet the needs of women living in the Scottish Borders. 1 in 5 women in Scotland will experience domestic abuse in their adult lives, with younger women in the16-24 age group being the most vulnerable (Source: Scottish Crime & Justice Survey, 2018). According to Police Scotland, last year in the Borders, over 800 women reported domestic abuse. This abuse is physical or psychological, or both, mostly by a male partner or ex-partner. It can range from all kinds of physical attack, to jealous and controlling behavior like being denied food, sleep and medical attention, to being put down or made to feel worthless. Recent changes in Scottish legislation mean that all such behaviours are a crime. Border Womens Aid is working hard to support every woman who reaches out to us. We are women supporting women, for however long it takes, to regain control of their lives away from abusive relationships. Our person-centred approach enables us to treat all women as individuals with unique needs and dreams, and to empower them to decide what is best for them and their children. We are not here to tell women what to do. We enable women to build on their strengths and to develop the skills and tools they need to determine their own futures. Our mission is to provide a community where all women and children can be safe and strong and to end domestic abuse in all its forms. In this last year, the work of Border Womens Aid has become ever more challenging. The average length of stay at our refuge has continued to rise as women present with more complex issues and needs. Our person-centred approach means that we spend much longer exploring issues and understanding the wider range of support needed. To meet this challenge we are working more intensively with our partners in other agencies. We have also appointed another much-needed support worker. We plan to increase our volunteer team and extend our community outreach across the Borders. /Over We know that our approach works, so let’s hear the voice of another woman who turned to us: “I will never forget my time in refuge for it was surely an education and a healing time too, since you all helped in such a positive way.” |