New beginnings for domestic abuse services in South Powys.
After providing domestic abuse services in South Powys for the last 27 years, women whose lives have benefited from the services provided by Brecknock WA pay tribute and say thanks. Oct 1st 2014 marked the start of a new era for domestic abuse services in South Powys as Brecknock Women’s Aid merged with Calan Domestic Violence Services (DVS) based in Neath.
Families expressed in their own words what the services of Brecknock Women’s Aid had meant to them. These were collated and a digital word art picture commissioned. Service users in refuge chose the final image – to represent their courage, strength, recovery and looking ahead to a brighter future. The final piece was completed by digital artist Juan Osborne.
Women describe how the services and support they received was ‘invaluable’ it helped them to feel ‘safe and secure’, to regain ‘confidence’. They expressed experiencing ‘kindness’ and ‘understanding’, feeling ‘listened to’ and ‘believed’ and with each step becoming ‘stronger’, things seeming ‘brighter each day’, finally enabling them and their children to ‘move on’ with their lives.
At the end of 2013 the Trustees of Brecknock Women’s Aid commissioned a review of the organisation and in order to ensure the preservation of specialist services in the area, took the decision to merge with Calan DVS. Since then the combined forces and expertise of Brecknock Women’s Aid and Calan DVS have moved forward together as one merged organisation operating under the name Calan DVS.
Calan DVS also provide services for men who have experienced abuse. The common denominator of harassment, discrimination, prejudice, abuse, persecution, conflict and violence is bullying. Bullying is an issue associated with power and control and it provides an opportunity to understand the behaviours which underlie almost all conflict and violence. Many believe that bullying, in whatever form it takes, is the single most important social issue of today.
For further information call the South Powys team on 01874 625146.
