Cyfannol Women’s Aid supports individuals and families across Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and the wider Gwent area, through refuge, outreach and community-based services.
With established bases in Pontypool, Abergavenny, Ebbw Vale and Newport and more than 40 years of experience, our dedicated teams support people to feel safe, recover from their experiences and rebuild their lives, empowering individuals to flourish in a life free from violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Cyfannol WA believes that a world without domestic abuse and sexual violence is one to aspire to. We believe that all people who are victims of abuse and violence should receive person-led and trauma-informed services. We acknowledge that overwhelmingly, domestic abuse and sexual violence is committed against women and that VAWDASV is a gender-based issue and a cause and consequence of gender inequality.
As a charity, our key role is therefore to support women and children to flee abuse and violence, recover from their experiences and to flourish in a life in which violence and abuse no longer happens to them.
This ideology will be reflected in our charity name, mission, vision and values.
Cyfannol WA recognises that gender identity is an important issue, and we believe in people's right to self-define. Our services specifically for women will welcome anyone who believes it's the right service for them, including cis-women, transwomen and non-binary people assigned female at birth.
Many of our services support all genders, including our Gwent-wide Assertive Outreach crisis response service and our Horizon Sexual Violence services.
We go through an in-depth assessment with anyone who wants to access any of our support services in order to ascertain which service is right for them, based on their individual situation and needs, as well as external risk factors. We have a range of options available that allow us to be flexible, including dispersed refuge properties (self-contained accommodation units) across Gwent, as well as outreach and community-based support services.
Where there are opportunities to expand our domestic abuse services through funding intended for all people, we will consider:
- The importance of the opportunity in terms of advancing our mission;
- Whether Cyfannol WA's unique and holistic approach can improve provision in that area; and
- Whether we are best placed to tender independently or with a trusted partner.
Strategic Goals & Priorities 2022-2025
Activities - Summary
Cyfannol WA supports people across Gwent who have experienced any form of Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse or Sexual Violence, through refuge, outreach and community-based services. With established bases in Pontypool, Abergavenny, Ebbw Vale and Newport and more than 40 years of experience, our dedicated teams help people to feel safe, recover from their experiences and rebuild their lives, empowering individuals to flourish in a life free from violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Public Benefit
As set out above all our charitable activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the Public Benefit. The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s ‘Charities and Public Benefit’, general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.
Achievements and Performance 2021-2022
1. Accommodation Services – 308 beneficiaries
Our accommodation services include:
- Refuge for single women experiencing multiple disadvantages (staffed 24/7)
- Self-contained refuge for families experiencing multiple disadvantages (staffed 24/7)
- Family refuges
- Dispersed/move on refuge provision
- Facilities for disabled women
In the past two years, we have expanded our provision to support greater flexibility and increased options for a wider range of people. This now includes a dispersed unit, which is available to either a man or a woman, and multi-use properties with the potential to house larger families, women with older children and individuals with carers or caring responsibilities.
Impact is measured though the use of the Housing Support Grant National Outcomes framework which monitors distance travelled by women in relation to: Feeling safe, Contributing to the safety and wellbeing of others, Managing accommodation, Managing relationships, Feeling part of the community, Managing money, Engaging in education, Engaging in employment, Physically healthy, Mentally healthy and Leading a healthy and active lifestyle.
2. Community Services – 1576 beneficiaries
Our community services incorporate crisis intervention, group-work programmes and longer-term ‘floating’ support in Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent and Newport.
Our Centres in Pontypool, Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale provide crisis intervention, emotional and practical support to women, either by phone or in person. Support can be accessed by any woman on a one-off or on-going basis.
Referrals are accepted from agencies, as well as individuals themselves. Some crisis referrals are received via police Public Protection Notices (PPN), whereby individuals have given consent to be contacted by a domestic abuse agency following an incident.
Women requiring ongoing support receive support to manage their tenancies, finance, relationships, safety and on-going education/training aspirations.
Group work figures incorporate the Own My Life programme, Recovery Toolkit and STAR Group.
Impact is measured though the use of the Supporting People National Outcomes framework which monitors distance travelled by women (as explained in 1).
CYP work for Newport and Blaenau Gwent is now delivered as part of the Ar Trac project (see section 5, below).
3. Assertive Outreach (Gwent wide) – 1193 beneficiaries
The Assertive Outreach initiative is aimed at anyone over the age of 16 who has reported a domestic abuse incident to Gwent Police more than once in a 12-month period.
Support can be provided in individual’s homes, a safe place within the community, over the phone, or via text or email, and can include completing a risk assessment, discussing what the individual wants and needs, formulating a safety plan, and establishing ongoing support needs.
The Assertive Outreach team aims to bridge the gap between the Police and Support Services, making sure individuals feel heard and understood when reporting a crime or seeking advice, knowing they will be taken seriously and believed.
4. Mentoring Project & Girls Group - 59 beneficiaries
The Mentoring Project is delivered across Monmouthshire and Torfaen to boys aged 5-16 who have experienced domestic abuse. The aim is to help them with behavioural challenges and managing feelings they might be experiencing. A mentor will engage with a child once a week for 9 months (under 11s) or once a week for 8 weeks, as part of a group (11-16 yrs).
The mentoring project supports the child to: feel more self-confident; relate better to others; develop a stronger sense of responsibility; understand the consequences of their actions; improve their concentration; and improve attendance and attainment at school.
Girls Groups are for girls aged 11-15 across Monmouthshire who have previously lived in a home where there was an unhealthy relationship between adults. These supportive, peer-led groups meet weekly for 8 weeks to work on small art and craft projects. The sessions offer an opportunity for the girls to listen and support each other, whilst developing their understanding of healthy relationships.
These groups focus on: Expressing ourselves in healthy and appropriate ways; Positive communication; Building self-esteem; Resilience; and Coping strategies.
5. Ar Trac Project – 86 beneficiaries
The Ar Trac project launched in April 2020 to support children and young people aged 5-16, who have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse and who are exhibiting difficulties with their family and peer relationships.
Ar Trac is delivered across 10 areas by 5 regional project partners. Cyfannol Women’s Aid is the lead partner, overseeing the project, and delivering interventions within Newport and Blaenau Gwent.
The project brings together a range of interventions, co-produced by local agencies with children and young people. Ar Trac’s suite of age-appropriate services are tailored based on the individual needs and strengths of the child and their family. As such, the project and what it offers will continue to evolve.
6. Horizon Sexual Violence Services – 524 beneficiaries
Our specialist sexual violence services are branded under the ‘Horizon’ project title, reflecting the fact that all our sexual violence services are open to all genders. The support available through Horizon includes:
- Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVA) Advice for women and girls aged 13+ on rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse available across Gwent.
- Therapeutic interventions, including counselling services for CYP’s and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse across Gwent
- Group work programmes (such as Sexual Violence Recovery Toolkit), peer support and group-based creative therapies
- Sexual Exploitation Advocacy
The impact of ISVA support is measured in line with the Lime Culture Risk and Needs Assessment, which monitors distance travelled in key areas of need: Harm from Others; Health and Medical; Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing; Coping Mechanism; Alcohol and Drug Use; Safeguarding; Criminal Justice; Employment and Education; Finance; Accommodation and Housing; Immigration and Residence.
Impact for counselling is measured using the C.O.R.E Therapy Assessment and End of Therapy Forms which involve client’s self-assessment of Well-being, Symptoms, Functioning and Risk.
Statement of Financial Activities
For the Year Ended 31 March 2021 (incorporating the income and expenditure account)
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
Charity Information
Email: info@cyfannol.org.uk
Head Office: 3 Town Bridge Buildings, Park Road, Pontypool, NP4 6JE
Phoneline: 03300 564456
Cyfannol Women's Aid is a registered charity in England and Wales, registration no. 1045890.