Sefton Women’s and Children’s Aid (SWACA) is celebrating 50 years this year. SWACA provides effective crisis intervention, early intervention and preventative services. SWACA were the recipients of the LCR Pride Community Fund earlier this year and plan to use the grant to support LGBT+ victims of domestic violence. We spoke to their Diversity and Inclusion Lead Victoria about supporting Sefton’s LGBT+ community.
Tell us about SWACA and the services you currently provide…
We have specialist services to enable everyone to overcome the impact of domestic abuse. These include; advocacy, advice, structured programmes of work, parenting support, legal advice and therapeutic support on a one to one, family or group work basis. We promote empowerment and resilience. SWACA delivers multi-agency training across Sefton and works in partnership with statutory and voluntary sectors on an operational and strategic level. SWACA is an evolving service and will continue to do so. This is due to our fantastic trustees, management team and dedicated workers.
Why did SWACA decide to apply for the LCR Community Fund?
SWACA as an organisation strives to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion remain a high priority. We have been working with service users from the LGBT+ community but felt that we needed to be more inclusive in our approach. We know that historically domestic abuse goes unreported in the LGBT+ community and this impact alone can be devastating. Everyone deserves the right to access support and recovery from domestic abuse.
How does SWACA aim to support Sefton’s LGBT+ community?
Domestic abuse in the LGBT+ community can be multifaceted due to complexities and barriers that are faced. We aim to provide a wraparound service that promotes safety, risk reduction, awareness and recovery so that people from the community feel fully understood and supported. In doing this we hope to break down internal, external, societal, practical and professional barriers that prevent people from the LGBT+ community in reporting abuse and accessing support.
Is there anything you would like to say to those who may be reading this and could benefit from using SWACA services?
Everyone from the LGBT+ community will have different individual needs, but we will listen to you and assess those needs so that your support and program of work will reflect this. We will create a safe space for you to feel comfortable.
You can find out more about SWACA services here: swaca.com
