大象传媒

Women鈥檚 Aid is the national charity for women and children working to end domestic abuse. We empower survivors by keeping their voices at the heart of our work, listening and responding to their needs. We are a federation of 250 organisations who provide lifesaving services to women and children across the country. Our campaigns achieve change in policy, practice and awareness, encouraging healthy relationships and helping to build a future where domestic abuse is no longer tolerated. Through our services we help hundreds of thousands of women and children every year.

Dawn Morville is a survivor of domestic violence, who has stayed in several refuges within the Women鈥檚 Aid national network.

鈥淗e used to lock us in the house and say he was going to kill himself and me. He would tie me up and hit me.鈥�

The final attack, after decades of abuse, ended with her husband trying to strangle her on the floor. The assault only stopped when Dawn鈥檚 child called the police. Dawn spent three days in hospital with a broken bone in her neck and severe bruising. The incident left Dawn mentally scarred and partially sighted. This time, however, her husband was finally prosecuted.聽

Photo: Tim Jones

In November 2014 Women鈥檚 Aid delivered a petition with 38,500 signatures to Downing Street and held candle-lit vigils across the country. Days later the Government announced a 拢10 million fund to protect the national network of specialist domestic violence refuges. Women鈥檚 Aid is continuing to work with the Government and all the main political parties to ensure a long term funding solution is found for these vital services.

Sadi Khan is a survivor of domestic violence. She is the winner of the 2011 Women鈥檚 Aid & Avon Empowering Women Awards 鈥榃oman of the Year鈥�.

Sadi, a British born Kashmiri woman, suffered psychological and physical abuse for five years following her arranged marriage at the age of 19. She found the courage to divorce her husband and is now a strong, independent, businesswoman with a proud son, who, aged 10, nominated her for the 鈥榃oman of the Year鈥� award. Sadi is the founder of Noble Khan, a cultural awareness training centre.

Photo: Tim Jones