Dumbarton District women's Aid provides information, support and/or safe refuge to women, children and young people fleeing domestic abuse. Domestic abuse refers to a wide range of physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse.

We run a refuge where abused women and their children can stay for as long and as often as they need. We try to find accomodation for any woman who wishes it through the network of Women's Aid refuges throughout Scotland. We aim to offer support and information to children and their mothers. We offer a safe, secure refuge environment and we aim to make the children's stay in the refuge as positive an experience as possible

Support offered is confidential and this includes, one-to-one support; information on housing/legal/benefit issues etc; emotional suport to come to tems with abuse; practical support and information; advocacy.

We also offer follow on support when a woman moves into her new home to help her prepare for the future.

An additional service is a dro in facility for women not looking for refuge who would like to speak to someone about past abuse and help with coming to terms with their feelings.

Our Vision-

We aim to change attitudes about violence against women and, in the long term, end the violence. In the short term, we wnat to increase legal protection and create better choices for abused women and their children.

Programmes and Activities-

Dumbarton District Women's Aid are in the fortunate position, where in May of 2005 we hope to be moving to a purpose built refuge. This will contain 10 self contained flats, removing the need for women sharing accomodation, as well as some comunal areas and excellent facilitities for children of all ages.

Our challenge in the next year is to fundraise for the items in this new building which relate specifically to our service provision. i.e. safety systems, barrier free access, and fitting out of children's areas. Our target is £110000 by the end of this year.