About us

Freeing Families From Domestic Abuse

Women’s Aid is the lead voluntary organisation in Northern Ireland addressing domestic abuse and providing services for women and children.

The Women’s Aid movement in Northern Ireland began in 1975. It’s made up of eight local Women’s Aid groups and Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland, the regional body with a role for training, policy and lobbying.

The ultimate aim Women’s Aid is to eliminate domestic abuse. We do this by challenging attitudes and beliefs that perpetuate domestic abuse and promoting healthy and non-abusive relationships.

The need for crisis intervention for women and children experiencing domestic abuse in the local area was identified at a public meeting in Bangor in 1982. North Down & Ards Women’s Aid was established soon after. Over the years, we have used our experience and expertise to meet the growing demand for services in the local area. Work has expanded significantly since those early days. Thanks to funding from a range of sources we are now able to reach women in both refuge and community settings. We can respond to the needs of women and children, not only through crisis intervention but through preventative support and education.