For nearly 50 years, Bromley & Croydon Women’s Aid (BCWA) has provided safe, secure, high-quality temporary accommodation and support services to women escaping domestic abuse. Started by volunteers in 1975, community is at the core of BCWA’s values, and they empower service-users to make informed choices and to be active within the community. They also have several former service-users on their board of trustees and staff and management teams; with over 50% of all staff disclosing lived experience of domestic abuse.
Last year BCWA were announced as winners of the London Homelessness Awards, winning £10,000. We went back to the team a few months after the ceremony in central London to ask what difference the award has made and what they intend to spend the money on.
Constanze Sen is the Chief Executive Officer at BCWA. She said:
“It was a huge thrill for us to win one of the London Homelessness Awards for 2023, especially as the only domestic abuse charity shortlisted. In addition to the £10,000 prize money, we’re so proud that our team have been recognised for their hard work and dedication to end violence against women and girls.”
Mental health is an increasing problem that the team at BCWA see, with a 200% increase in clients needing support with their mental health. But with long waiting lists and a drastic decline in the services available for women, very few are able to access appropriate support.
Kamilah Tomlinson is the Clinical Lead and Counselling Services Manager at the charity.
“There is a significant correlation between abuse and poor mental health. It is commonly understood that the impact of domestic abuse can lead to depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress (PTS), eating disorders, self-harming behaviours and suicidal ideation. And there is not enough trauma-informed or culturally adapted mental health support available.”
One of the most important resources BCWA needs to help clients with their mental health is a dedicated space for their in-house counselling service. Survivors of domestic abuse need a therapeutic, quiet and reflective space to process the trauma they’ve experienced BCWA having their own space, as opposed to relying on third party venues, would mean more flexibility and accessibility for the service, To help with this the charity is fundraising to build a specially designed garden office to be used for counselling.
The £10,000 from the London Homelessness Awards is being used to help fund this initiative, and work starts on site this week.
To find out more about BCWA and to contribute to the project go to Bromley and Croydon Domestic Abuse Service (bcwa.org.uk) To find out more about this years London Homelessness Awards which open in May go to Home – London Homelessness Awards (lhawards.org.uk)
