Various support agencies for women are listed below
Foyle Women’s Aid
Foyle Women’s Aid (FWA) has been in existence since 1976 as a lead provider working to eliminate sexual and domestic abuse against women and children in the North-West. The primary geographical areas serviced by the organisation are Derry, Strabane, Limavady and Dungiven and surrounding rural townlands. FWA is a member of the Women’s Aid Federation NI, together with eight other regional Women’s Aid groups. We provide 32 secure, supported, short term fully equipped apartments that have been carefully planned, purpose built to ensure high security and safety and confidentiality for women (and their children) who have had to leave their homes for their own safety due to domestic abuse.
We have a team of qualified, experienced Independent Domestic Violence Advocates who are trained in trauma informed processes to support the complex needs of victims and survivors of abuse of all ages. We operate a rigorous process of triage assessment, risk management support planning processes and links specialist agencies and programmes tailored to provide safety, break the cycles of domestic abuse, We have developed a range of projects for all members of the family to access support promote independent living, encouraging women young people take back control of their lives thus empowering them to break the cycle of abuse for themselves and their children.
Telephone: 028 7141 6800,
Email: [email protected].
Foyle Women's Information Network (FWIN)
FWINwas established in January 1994 at a meeting in the Verbal Arts Centre during which, women affirmed the idea for a Women’s Network. There was a recognition of the need to support women and women’s groups throughout the North West, both urban and rural, to develop their own skills and maximise their input to social, educational and political development within local areas as well as at a strategic level within Northern Ireland.
In addition, there was a recognised need to support all women to address their educational, leisure, emotional, physical, health and well being and their cultural development.
The aims of the network are as follows:
The network was established for the advancement of education and the protection of health, and in particular to provide in the northwest, facilities in the interests of social welfare for the education, recreation and leisure time occupation of women who by reason of social or economic circumstances have need of such facilities.
Its mission statement is to increase the capacity, visibility and voice of women throughout the North West.
The values which underpin the work of FWIN are:
- To provide a professional proactive and quality service
- To support and value each individual woman (embracing diversity) to reach their potential
- To support women and groups that work with women
- To encourage women to use a partnership approach
- Community development principles underpin its work
- Promoting equality for women influencing decision makers
Foyle Women’s Information Network
10 - 12 Bishop Street
Derry~Londonderry
BT48 6HW
Tel: +44 (0) 28 71 266 291
Email: [email protected]
The Advocacy Project in Dove House
The Advocacy Project helps and supports women who are suffering or have suffered Domestic Abuse and we do this by signposting and referring to specialised agencies and also offer one-to-one support, at a community level. Our main goal is to be a stepping stone and immediate response for women coming forward and to help and support them as best as we can, with the main goal getting women confident to go forward to Foyle Womens Aid, who are the experts in the field.
We are best available to be contacted via email or telephone which is [email protected] or 02871 269327
Eglinton Community Centre
Women's Health and Safety Course - Self-Defence Classes Monday Evenings 7pm - 8.30pm - until 3rd March 2025. We will make personal alarms and Hi-Viz vests available to those who require them
Advice NW Outreach - Wednesdays 9.30am - 12.30pm - can help women with financial issues
Academy of Shotokan Karate - Thursdays every week, 6.30pm - 8pm - join a club and build your fitness and confidence.
Victim Support NI
Foyle Hub,
6th floor, Embassy Buildings
3 Strand Road, Derry
BT48 7BH
Contact Details:
028 7137 0086
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Victim Support NI is the leading charity supporting victims and witnesses of crime in Northern Ireland. Our trauma-informed support is available whether or not you have reported your crime to police, and regardless of how long-ago the crime took place. We provide an emotional support and advice service to victims of all crime types, and have referral arrangements in place with specialist support agencies. Our services are free and confidential and are available to adults and children.
With regards to gender-based violence, we provide specialist advocacy support to victims of serious sexual crime through the Sexual Offences Legal Advisers (SOLA), who offer free and confidential legal advice and support to victims of serious sexual crime. This has now been extended to children and young people with the addition of a Children’s SOLA. We also manage the Hate Crime Advocacy Service, which supports victims of hate crime throughout Northern Ireland.
Derry Well Women
We provide :
- One to one counselling with availability 9 am – 9 pm Mon to Thursday and 9 am – 1 pm on Friday, as well as a Listening Ear service. We have an open door policy for any women who needs a safe and confidential place for support
- A range of mental health and emotional well being supports and programmes including Journey to Inner Peace, Coping with Anxiety and Depression and Self Esteem group support etc
- A range of holistic and social support programmes including sound bath meditation, yoga etc
- Daily creche Monday-Friday to support women to attend counselling and courses
- We also have a range of clinics including endometriosis and menopause clinics and cancer supports
Overall we offer a life course approach to women’s health and we are aware that women who are experiencing violence and abuse need support in all aspects of their health and wellbeing.
We are open at times above and our address is 17 Queen Street Derry BT48 7EQ
Telephone – 02871 360777
Women’s Centre Derry
The services which we provide are for all women not specifically EVAWG but would be good support and wrap around services for anyone that may me affected by EVAWG.
Some of the services we offer are:
- Education and Employment support
- Maternal advocacy support
- BAME Advocacy Support
- Integration programmes
- Child development
- Wellbeing
- Childcare
- 1-1 counselling
Our address is
Beibhinn House, 5 Guildhall Street, Derry, BT48 6BB
Our contact number is:02871267672.
We have website, thewomenscentre.co.uk
We are on Facebook and Instagram also.
Parenting Focus
Parenting Focus is the leading charity for parenting support in Northern Ireland, with over 45 years of experience providing a wide range of family support services aimed at improving the lives of children, young people, and their parents.
Our core objective is to enhance skills, understanding, and opportunities for parents, while promoting the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of both parents and their children. We achieve this by developing and delivering tailored programmes of support that empower parents and those in a parenting role.
At Parenting Focus, we prioritise prevention and early intervention, working collaboratively with parents to address challenges and improve outcomes. By fostering resilience and confidence, we enable families to build stronger relationships and create nurturing environments that help children and young people thrive.
At Parenting Focus, we recognise the often-hidden issue of Child to Parent Abuse (CPA) and the profound impact it has on mothers who experience fear, stress, and isolation in their own homes. Through our Walking on Eggshells programme, we provide a safe, non-judgmental space for mothers (and fathers) to share their experiences, gain practical coping strategies, and rebuild their confidence.
This specialised programme offers emotional support, guidance, and tools to help mothers and fathers understand the root causes of CPA, set healthy boundaries, and develop strategies to manage challenging behaviours. Delivered by experienced facilitators, Walking on Eggshells empowers mums and dads (or other adults in a caring role such as kinship carers, Grandparents, foster carers) to regain control, reduce feelings of guilt and blame, and rebuild positive relationships with their children where possible.
By bringing together mothers and fathers facing similar challenges, the programme also fosters a sense of community and peer support, breaking the isolation, many feel.
At Parenting Focus, we are committed to ensuring that no mother feels alone in this journey and that every parent has access to the help they need to create a safer and more positive home environment.
We have also attended the information session at Belfast City Council to also consider making an application to support others by providing this programme of intervention and support.