We are very pleased to announce that BCWA has been awarded the Women’s Aid National Quality Standard, demonstrating the high standard of our support for survivors of domestic abuse and their children.

The Women’s Aid National Quality Standards are a set of accredited criteria through which dedicated specialist services addressing domestic violence perpetrated against women and children can evidence their quality. The standards were developed by Women’s Aid, the national domestic violence charity that co-ordinates and supports an England-wide network of over 250 local services working to end domestic violence against women and children.

The assessment panel examined a range of evidence from across our range of refuge and community services for women and children. They particularly commended BCWA for our support for women involved in sex work and those trafficked into the sex industry, and for our work with professionals raising awareness of abuse amongst older women.

BCWA Chief Executive Sara Ward commented:

We are really proud to have achieved the Women’s Aid England (WAFE) National Quality Standards this year (2020). Being assessed by our peers against such high standards demonstrates that BCWA delivers quality specialist support services  and achieves a lasting change to the lives of women and children survivors of domestic violence.

I believe that this sends out a clear message; firstly to victims who need us that we are a high quality independent specialist service and here to help  and secondly to those that commission services  of the standards we work within and the difference we make. We will continue to offer a safe space for women, ensure women’s voices are heard, challenge systems and structures and continue to campaign for victim safety.

Our work will cease when we know women and children are free from violence and abuse.

Women's Aid National Quality Standard 2020 logo