Last night, the incoming Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Dan De’Ath announced he has selected Welsh Women’s Aid as one of his nominated charities for the year, along with BAWSO.
Welsh Women’s Aid is the charity in Wales supporting a national network of local specialist services that help and support women, children and families impacted by violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 children in Cardiff will experience abuse violence at some point. This includes sexual violence, coercive controlling behaviour, forced marriage, sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, stalking or harassment. Supporting this appeal will benefit local communities and help raise awareness of, and fundraise for, the vital lifesaving and life changing work happening in Cardiff by our members, Cardiff Women’s Aid and Safer Wales, to make sure everyone impacted by abuse can access the right help and support when they need it.
Eleri Butler, CEO of Welsh Women’s Aid said:
“We are delighted that funds raised through this year-long charity appeal will go directly to supporting the work of Welsh Women’s Aid and our local members – Cardiff Women’s Aid and Safer Wales – and towards the running of our helpline. We are also pleased to be sharing this joint nomination with BAWSO, a vital service led by and for Black and minority women in Wales.”
“By working together with our members, we make sure survivors and their families are offered practical help, advocacy, counselling and support in a crisis and longer term, wherever and whenever it is needed. Together, our work in Cardiff helps us improve laws, policies and practices to benefit all survivors of abuse. We also train other services and employers to improve their response to abuse, and we support a network of community ambassadors in Cardiff to work with us to deliver lasting change in local communities.
“Violence against women and girls, which is a cause and consequence of the unequal status of women and girls in society, is entirely preventable with the necessary will and resources. This is everybody’s business; everyone has the right to live free from fear and abuse. We hope the people of Cardiff will get behind this Mayor’s charity appeal and fundraise or help us raise awareness of our vital work in local communities. Please join our movement for change and help us end violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence for good.”
Morgan Fackrell, CEO of Cardiff Women’s Aid said:
“Cardiff Women’s Aid is hugely grateful to have this opportunity not just for fundraising but also to increase awareness raising about violence against women. Through our service delivery arms, RISE and Cardiff Women’s Centre, we work with some of the most at risk women, children and young people in the City. Cardiff is a City that has always showed far sighted leadership in the area of preventing violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence and continues to be at the cutting edge of service development and delivery.”
Simon Borja, Director of Project Development at Safer Wales said:
” For 21 years, Safer Wales have been working with victims of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence in Cardiff, which includes the protection of women and girls who have been exploited and harmed, including through prostitution by delivering evening outreach and daytime support to reduce exploitation, violence and homelessness in the Cardiff area. Safer Wales also delivers the Dyn Project which directly supports gay, bisexual, heterosexual and transgender men who experience domestic abuse.”
You can contact Welsh Women’s Aid directly to fundraise or support our work as part of this appeal, or contact the Mayor’s Office directly.
– Please send cheques payable to ‘Cardiff Council Lord Mayor’s Charity’ to: Protocol Office, Mansion House, Richmond Road, Cardiff, CF24 3UN
– If you would like to organise a fundraising event for the Lord Mayors Charities please Telephone: 029 20871543 or Email: [email protected]
For further information about Welsh Women’s Aid: welshwomensaid.org.uk or to support us contact [email protected] @welshwomensaid.
The Live Fear Free helpline – which provides 24-hour, multi-lingual, confidential support for anyone impacted by abuse – can be contacted by calling: 0808 801 0800; Text: 078600 77333 or Email: [email protected]. Webchat is also available.
For further information about Cardiff Women’s Aid
For further information about Safer Wales