West Mercia Women's Aid

Our Mission

“Our core purpose is to reduce the incidence and impact of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls in West Mercia by providing support, protection and prevention services that empower those affected by violence and abuse to rebuild their lives and those of their children.

As a team of strong, dedicated women we recognise the need to work with respect, care and collaboration with our service users, our partners and with each other, to make sure that we can give our best to those that look to us for help and support.”

Our Philosophy & Values

West Mercia Women’s Aid understands that violence against women is both a cause and a consequence of women’s unequal position in society.

The philosophy of West Mercia Women’s Aid has its roots in, and is underpinned by, feminism and the women’s movement. We value:

• Women’s right to express themselves and be heard
• Mutual respect and non-judgemental behaviour
• Individual responsibility, choice and empowerment
• Being open and inclusive to all women and their children who experience domestic abuse
• Putting the needs of women and children who experience domestic abuse at the heart of what we do
• Equality – we recognise that domestic abuse happens within all communities and provide services regardless of ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, disability, religion or class

Our Support Services

Our range of services includes:

• Specialist domestic abuse Helpline
• Refuges for women and children, and safe satellite accommodation
• One-to-one support for people living in the local community
• Specialist safety advice and advocacy by Independent Domestic Violence Advisors
• Recovery and empowerment group programmes – delivered both online and in person
• Advice and support for male victims
• Ongoing peer support for survivors, through our Survivor Network
• Individual and group programmes of support for children and for young people impacted upon by domestic abuse
• Specialist support for young people experiencing teen relationship abuse
• Bespoke training for professionals, employers and communities

Interested in working with us?

We are reliant on the skills and goodwill of our volunteer counselling team to provide this service and welcome applications to join the team. We provide opportunities for qualified counsellors to volunteer, and for trainee counsellors with appropriate knowledge and experience to undertake their practice experience with adult clients.

We ask for a minimum commitment of 12 months, and the availability to work with at least 2 clients on a weekly basis. Counselling is currently provided face-to-face in Hereford, Worcester, Kidderminster and Telford, so you must be available to work out of at least one (and ideally more than one) of these locations. Counselling normally takes place during weekday working hours, so you would need to have availability during these times. It would be helpful for you to have some awareness of the impacts of trauma or trauma-informed practice.

You need to provide evidence of your own Professional Indemnity Insurance and to make your own arrangements for appropriate clinical supervision.

View more about volunteer counselling