Women’s Aid Armagh Down to embark on major capital investment

The new centre called ELEOS (Engagement, Learning, Empowerment, Opportunity and Support) aims to support women, children and young people at the earliest point possible, creating real life-saving interventions in cases of domestic abuse.

The audience heard that in 2023/24, 1,852 women from Newry, Mourne, Down & Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon were referred to WAAD support services. This represents a 72% increase in referrals over the last four years. According to PSNI statistics up to March 2023 per head of population, Newry Mourne and Down/Armagh Banbridge Craigavon (NMDDC/ABC) combined statistics have the highest PSNI risk level of domestic violence outside of Belfast.

As well as the societal issues this causes, domestic abuse can have a detrimental impact in the workplace with women having uncharacteristic leaves of absence; or perhaps having to leave the workforce altogether because of financial coercive control by a partner.

This new centre aims to support women, children and young people at the earliest possible stage to provide support and opportunities to access a range of essential services under one roof. The centre also aims to provide resources to employers to help improve education and learning, and support service to employees experiencing domestic abuse. This should enable them to maintain productive and positive employer/employee relationships, maintaining a level of financial independence and increasing confidence.

Eileen Murphy, CEO Women’s Aid Armagh Down said, “We have seen projects right across the world where early intervention in domestic abuse situations has a significant impact not only on the wellbeing of the woman and her children but from a cost to society and the economy. We only have one 11 bed refuge for a population of 400,000 across our two Council areas alone. We cannot unfortunately, keep up to the level of demand for our support services from all the women who need them. We need to see intervention at a much earlier level.”

“The redevelopment of numbers 5 and 7 Downshire Road in Newry will allow us to do this. We are working on developing closer relationships with industry to help make a change. We are talking to workplaces about the legislative changes and what they can do to help make a difference.

“If this new centre prevents even one woman’s death on this Island, it will be worth every penny invested in it.”

The ELEOS Centre is a three to five-year capital project which has, to date, benefited from £300,000 capital funding and £60,000 revenue funding from Community Ownership Funding; and £25,000 from Pilgrim Trust to commence Phase 1 of the Redevelopment Programme. The audience also heard from Terex Corporation, a company who are already working closely with Women’s Aid Armagh Down.

In the coming months WAAD will be working towards raising the remainder of the £3 million required to deliver the three phase programmes through corporate outreach and grant applications which do not impact on its revenue funding.