| Founded | 13 March 1996 |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered UK charity (number 1054154)[1] |
| Focus | Domestic violence |
| Location |
|
Area served | National (England)[1] |
Revenue | £3.5 million[1] |
| Employees | 44[1] |
| Website | womensaid |
Women's Aid Federation of England, commonly called Women's Aid within England, is one of a group of charities across the United Kingdom. There are four main Women's Aid Federations, 3 for each of the countries of the United Kingdom, and one for the Republic of Ireland (not being part of the UK). Its aim is to end domestic violence against women and children. The charity works at both local and national levels to ensure women's safety from domestic violence and promotes policies and practices to prevent domestic violence.
Women's Aid Federation of England is the sole national co-ordinating body for the England-wide network of over 370 local domestic violence organisations, providing over 500 refuges, outreach, advocacy and children's support services. Women's Aid campaigns for better legal protection and services and in partnership with its national network, runs public awareness and education campaigns. Any woman can stay at a refuge (and take their children) and proof of abuse is not needed to stay at a refuge.[2]
Women's Aid provides services through its publications and website, and runs a Freephone 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline in partnership with Refuge. Former Spice Girl Melanie Brown became a patron of the charity in 2018 after leaving what she described as an abusive relationship and was made an MBE in 2022 for services to charitable causes and vulnerable women.[3]
Women's Aid has faced criticism for uncritically accepting all untested women's claims, including false allegations for financial gain or custody advantages, despite the significant repercussions for innocent men, children, benevolent individuals, and taxpayers. [4]