Service Description

Information and Support

The first contact many women have with NAWA is at the public office in Union Street, Saltcoats.  As well as access to refuge, women are offered counselling and support within a safe and comfortable environment.  Workers provide information to help women make informed choices regarding their future and can also accompany women to appointments and court hearings. Continued support is offered to help women move on from the long term effects of Domestic Abuse.

A Safe Place to Stay

Refuge is about safety, support and the opportunity to express your feelings, issues and concerns.  In the refuge you will not be judged or blamed for the abuse.  The refuge accommodation varies from en-suite rooms and family units with communal living areas  to 3 bedroom family homes, mostly within purpose built buildings. The refuge addresses are confidential because we understand how determined abusive men can be and we take the safety of women, children and young people very seriously.

Children and young people

North Ayrshire Women’s Aid offers support to children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse. It is a needs led, confidential service through which the worker will provide support to help them move forward in their journey, free from abuse. Children can be supported whether they are in refuge or still at home. Meetings take place in an environment where it is safe to talk, free from judgements and prejudices and more often is done during school time.

Outreach Service

NAWA provides outreach services for women who have lived in refuge and are moving to their new home. This involves practical support including help with benefits, accessing grants and services and emotional support. The service also provides ongoing support to women living in North Ayrshire who have experienced domestic abuse but who have not accessed refuge.

Pearl’s Centre is a purpose built facility where women can ‘drop in’ and  access a range of services including group work for confidence building and self esteem, lunch clubs with activities and speakers and The Lavender Room alternative therapies.

Children and Young People’s Outreach provides dedicated support for children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse and can benefit from a safe environment to talk about their experiences.  Children and young people can be referred through their mother or through their school, but can also access the service in their own right.

Addictions Service

Our addictions workers provide support for women who have experienced domestic abuse who have also developed and addiction to alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs. The workers support women to engage with services, secure their stay in refuge and provide follow on outreach support when they are relocated to a new home. The ability of our workers to address the abuse, the addiction and the links between them is critical in the woman’s recovery and offers a far greater chance of her being able to move on with her life, free from both abuse and addiction.

Our Projects

CEDAR

Cedar is a therapeutic group work programme for children and their mothers recovering from domestic abuse. It provides a valuable and important intervention promoting the recovery of children through strengthening the mother child relationship. Some of the outcomes for children, young people and their mothers are that they have a greater understanding of domestic abuse, a greater knowledge of safety planning and support and an improvement in their relationship with each other.

Young Women’s Support group

This a 12 week programme funded by Comic Relief for young women aged 16-25 who have experienced domestic abuse. The programme includes sessions on healthy relationships, positive choices, dealing with difficult emotions, building self esteem, keeping safe, understanding domestic abuse, managing finances and looking to the future. Some of the young women have gone on to become involved with the Young Voices group, developing materials and a DVD of their experiences to support other young women in the community.

Prevention Project

This project in conjunction with 2 local schools, aims to raise awareness of the impact and change attitudes towards domestic abuse. It also aims to support young people to be able to identify the key signs of and be less likely to tolerate abusive behaviour in their own relationships.

Accessibility

Both the public office at 1-5 Union Street, Saltcoats and the Pearl’s Centre at 23 Hamilton Street, Saltcoats are on the ground floor

Areas Covered

Opening Days

Opening Times

• Monday to Friday | 9am to 4pm