History of LWA
LWA has been providing domestic abuse services since 1977 and is made up of paid staff and volunteers who provide a range of services to the community and is managed by a team of volunteer Trustee Directors.
Initially we began by providing refuge services for women – but over the last ten years we have added new services such as Outreach, which is provided to those for whom refuge is not wanted, needed or appropriate. In addition to this we have now opened up our services to help and support male victims of domestic abuse.
In 2011 and again in 2015 LWA successfully passed the PQASSO Level Two Quality Assessment and with it received the Charities Commission’s Endorsement.
In September 2012 we started a new service in Leicester city providing support to children, young people and their families. We call this the Family Service.
In October 2012 we took over the management of Outreach and IDVA services in Rutland.
In 2014 we started a research project with Leicestershire Police and Leicester University called Project 360. The success of this project led to it being tendered as a service which LWA won in 2016.
In 2015 we formed a consortium with FreeVA and Women’s Aid Leicestershire Limited to deliver all services across Leciester City, Leicestershire and Rutland. The consortium is called United Against Violence and Abuse (UAVA).
In 2017 we launched a Family Service for Leicestershire County.
In 2019 we launched the Amber Service for survivors of rape and sexual assault.
In May 2019 we were awarded the Investing in Volunteers Quality Mark.
In 2020 we were awarded the Trusted Charity Level Two Quality Mark.
We have worked tirelessly for more than 45 years to help victims of domestic and sexual abuse – offering a wide range of services and advice to help and support them. We aim to work actively to tackle these issues head-on whilst raising awareness of just how far and wide domestic abuse can spread.
If you would like to know more about how we do this, please see our LWA Services section.