About East Fife Women's Aid

What is Women's Aid?

East Fife Women's Aid is a charitable organisation based in the voluntary sector, which supports women and their children (if any) who have experience of Domestic Abuse (DA). East Fife Women's Aid (EFWA) is based in North East Fife, Scotland. There are two main towns in the area, Cupar and St. Andrews. In the main, North East Fife is a rural area. EFWA delivers its services from an office base in Cupar

Why are we needed?

Domestic abuse, whether physical, sexual or emotional, occurs throughout our society.

Abusers come from all social, ethnic and economic groups.

Many people are surprised that there is a need for such a service in rural Fife but any woman can be abused and it usually happens behind closed doors.

It is important that all women within our community have the option of seeking help and support.

During the year 2006/2007 EFWA had 3147 new and repeat contacts with women - 30 women and 43 children were accommodated in refuge. The average length of stay for women and their children in refuge was 180 days.

Experiences of Women & Children

Many women, who have experience of domestic abuse, have had no control over their lives for many years. They may never have had to make a decision regarding themselves, their children or home for a long time. Women and children also face the prospect of establishing themselves into a new community or school. This can be a daunting prospect, if you have not been allowed to have contact with your family or friends for so long. You lose self-respect and self esteem. Along with practical advice and support, the paid and unpaid workers of EFWA support women and children to become independent, to become as confident as they can in all that they do.

How can we help?

Some of the service's we offer include refuge accommodation, information in relation to benefits and rights, emotional support for women and children to work through their issues and understand their experiences, liaison and advocacy with other agencies, for women and children, to ensure the best possible support is received.

We will listen to women and believe them.
We will not tell them what to do but we will support them in the decisions they make and respect their choices.
We can provide information about their legal rights, housing options and entitlement to benefits.
We can provide refuge space or a safe place to stay for women and their children who need to get away.
We will not tell anyone what they have said or even that they have been to see us.
We can offer company and support if they have to go to court, a solicitor or Council offices.

Who are We?

EFWA was established in 1996 by a small group of women who gave of their time and service unpaid. As the need for services, for women and their children, who have experience of domestic abuse, became more apparent, EFWA was successful in securing funding to support the service they were offering. So in 1998, EFWA appointed two part time paid employees. Women were offered support through outreach work, refuge accommodation, and support to establish themselves in their new lives and communities. This could take the form of a listening ear, establishing an income, budgeting advice, through to a change of identity. The growth of EFWA during the last ten years has led to the organisation having approximately 14 paid and 2 volunteers. The growth of the organisation came about through the identified needs of the women and children with whom EFWA work.

Growth in the organisation has led to the following structure and service provision:

A board of directors
A management and administration team of Manager, finance worker & administrative worker
A Children and Young People's Service (C&YPS), staff include team leader and 3 project workers
A Women's Support Service (WSS), staff include team leader, 4 project workers and maintenance
Volunteers
Outreach work - work with women, who come to EFWA for support, who may remain in their own home, or have not been admitted to refuge
Follow on work - this service enables women, children and young people to receive support once the have been re-housed into their new community
Training, development and awareness raising - EFWA strive to raise awareness, locally and nationally, on the effects of domestic abuse on women, children and young people. The organisation also promotes personal development of its members and service users
Refuge accommodation
Individual support, and group support.

How are we funded?

East Fife Women's Aid is a charitable company limited by guarantee Co. No SC230204

Registered Scottish charity SCO 26821.We are currently funded by:

Fife Council
The Scottish Executive Violence Against Women Fund